‘Insecure’ Star Issa Rae Signs First-Look Deal With HBO

Insecure may be just the beginning of HBO’s relationship with actress-writer Issa Rae.

The co-creator, exec producer and star of the half-hour comedy has signed a first-look producing deal with the pay cabler, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. 

As part of the two-year pact, Rae will develop programming focused on diverse voices that would be showcased on HBO platforms, including HBO Go and HBO Now. The deal comes ahead of Insecure‘s Oct. 9 bow. 

Related Stories

Related Story

Issa Rae Is Not the First Black Woman to Create and Star in Her Own Comedy — She's the Second

The comedy stars Rae and Yvonne Orji as two modern-day black women and centers on the uncomfortable experiences and racy tribulations they face. Rae co-created the series with Larry Wilmore. The two began developing the project in 2013 and received a series pickup in October 2015. Although Wilmore eventually left to focus on his now-defunct Comedy Central entry The Nightly Show, he continues to serve as a consultant on the series.

Rae’s other credits include the popular YouTube series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. She is repped by UTA, 3 Arts and Hansen Jacobsen.

Insecure is one of several high-profile launches this fall on HBO. It will be paired with Sarah Jessica Parker’s half-hour dark comedy Divorce, and the premium network also has the upcoming big-budget sci-fi Western Westworld. HBO is getting ready to say farewell to several series, including Girls and The Leftovers.