Fox’s ‘Son of Zorn’ to Premiere Early After NFL Doubleheader

Fox isn’t waiting for the fall season to plug Son of Zorn.

The new Sunday comedy, a live-action/animation hybrid, will sample two weeks ahead of its official premiere with an ideally lofty lead-in from the NFL season’s first doubleheader. Fox typically sees massive ratings lifts after late-running football, and Son of Zorn will preview at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11, following either the New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys or Detroit Lions-Indianapolis Colts game (depending on your market).

Son of Zorn‘s creative team appeared at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour on Monday, where they had to walk several thick reporters through the premise of putting an animated character (He-Man-esque Zorn, voiced by Jason Sudeikis) with his live-action family.

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“It’s almost like Harry Potter,” explained executive producer Sally Bradford McKenna, asserting that they’re trying to make a grounded, relatable show. “It’s the real world, but in it exists wizards and stuff.”

It turns out that Zorn comes from an island that exists somewhere on Earth — only its inhabitants are burly, loincloth-covered warriors. Co-creator Reed Agnew likened it to more of a race than a cartoon. “You buy into the reality that Toontown exists,” added director-producer Eric Appel, referring to the cartoon Hollywood neighborhood from Who Framed Roger Rabbit. “I think our audience can take that leap.”

The show hails from executive producers Chris Miller and Phil Lord, though the two were not in attendance for Monday’s TCA. With Son of Zorn already finished with photography on the initial 13-episode freshman season, the duo are currently in the U.K. prepping Disney’s stand-alone Han Solo movie.

Son of Zorn isn’t the only new series that Fox is hoping to lift with football this season. The network announced back at its May upfront that 24: Legacy would get the coveted post-Super Bowl slot.