Comedy Pilot ‘Dragged’ from Jack C. Newell and Chuck Norment Filming in Chicago This Week

Will there be a new comedy television series landing in Chicago in 2025? Director Jack C. Newell (pictured here) and actor-writer Chuck Norment are planning on it, and it all begins with the pilot. Newell and Norment are filming the pilot for their hilarious and wild ride of a series Dragged this week throughout Chicago, and they stopped by SCREEN to tell you all about it.

In Dragged, Xander’s life is a disaster even before his best friend Alex, a rising drag star, officially cuts him loose. Devastated and unmoored, Xander scrambles to win back Alex’s attention with increasingly absurd stunts – like roping in a one-night stand for a “revenge photo op” or desperately trying to decode Alex’s social media posts. Meanwhile, Alex is thriving under the watchful (and slightly overbearing) eye of Bambi, a seasoned queen who sees Xander as nothing more than dead weight. For the first time, Xander is left with no spotlight to hide in – and no idea how to survive on his own.

The story behind Dragged is a deeply personal one for Norment. “It’s inspired by the end of a friendship I relied on for nine years,” Chuck shared with SCREEN. “Losing that foundation was devastating, and this story explores the messy, often absurd process of figuring out who you are when the person you’ve leaned on is no longer there. As a filmmaker, this project means giving voice to characters who are flawed and complex. It’s about telling a story that’s equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking because life is often both. This film is my way of saying it’s okay to be a disaster while you figure out who you are. It’s part of the process, and there’s beauty in the chaos.”

Comedy All-Stars Lead the Cast

Newell has assembled an amazing cast of comedic actors to join Norment on the screen. The ensemble is led by T.J. Jagodowski (who collaborated with Newell on the SXSW 2024 hit Bettendorf Talks), Asia Martin, Laurel Krabacher, Cassidy Russell, Wade Howard, Bambi Banks and Radcliffe Adler. “We’re taking the audience on a very funny and wild ride that Xander takes as he gets Dragged through the world of Drag,” Newell declared to SCREEN. “All of the actors and performers we have in the show level up Chuck’s writing to 11 (on a scale of 10).”

Filming Throughout the City

The production will be traversing the North Side of Chicago, landing at Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar in Bucktown, Hydrate nightclub in Boystown, and a few other spots around town.

This independent TV pilot is being executive produced and produced by Streeterville Productions, and produced by ZAXIE. Directed by Jack C. Newell and written by and starring Chuck Norment. Camera Ambassador is supplying the camera and G&E equipment.

Looking Ahead

“I think Chuck really is onto something here in this story of Xander losing their best friend and then the self-destructive, and just generally destructive, path they go on to figure out who they are,” Jack shared with SCREEN. “When you lose a friend, you mourn someone who is still alive — and you mourn a relationship that is gone. This is something we’ve all been through and the personal nature of what Chuck has mined here gives it real authenticity, which is really exciting for me to be able to help bring to life as a producer/director.”

Chuck believes that “viewers will connect with the raw, messy and hilarious humanity of Dragged. It’s a story about losing the people you lean on the most and realizing you have to figure out who you are without them. That’s a universal feeling, but it’s told through a sharp, queer lens that celebrates the absurdity of life. Whether it’s Xander’s cringe-worthy attempts to stay relevant in Alex’s world or Theresa’s hilariously on-point cosmic wisdom, there’s humor, heart, and a sense of realness in every moment. People will resonate with the push-and-pull of friendships, the mistakes we make in desperation, and the messy path to self-discovery.”

Dragged wraps up filming this week and heads into post-production. Once completed, the pilot will be submitted to film and TV festivals across the country to garner attention with the hopes of earning that series greenlight.

Be sure to check back here at SCREEN Magazine for this pilot and all the latest news in Chicago and Illinois television production. You can also click right here to subscribe to our weekly email newsletter.