‘Deli Boys’ Picked Up to Series at Hulu, But When and Where Will It Film?

As the television industry awaits resolution of the WGA Strike, there is some positive news for the Chicago production community… and naturally, some uncertainty as well. The comedy pilot Deli Boys was picked up to series earlier this month. Ten half-hour episodes are expected for the first season. But when and where will the the series be filming?

Initially, the target date for filming was announced as this Summer, possibly as early as next month. With the WGA Strike raging on, and no clear resolution path in sight, it seems highly unlikely Deli Boys will begin filming this June. Sources tell SCREEN a more realistic date for the Deli Boys series to begin filming may be September or October. But of course, that will hinge on resolution of the writers’ strike, and it’s all speculation at this point as to when that time will come.

As for where the series will film, Deli Boys is expected to film in Chicago, which is where the pilot was shot last Fall from October 26th through November 5th. Click here for more of SCREEN’s coverage of the Deli Boys pilot production.

To recap, Onyx Collective announced earlier this month it had picked up the Deli Boys comedy pilot to series. Starring Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, Alfie Fuller, Poorna Jagannathan and new series regular Brian George, the series from 20th Television will stream exclusively on Hulu in the U.S.

Get to Know the Story and Stars of Deli Boys

In Deli Boys, when their convenience store-magnate father suddenly dies, a pair of pampered Pakistani American brothers (played by the aforementioned Asif Ali and Saagar Shaikh) lose everything and are forced to reckon with their Baba’s secret life of crime as they attempt to take up his mantle in the underworld.

Actor and comedian Asif Ali (Don’t Worry Darling, Wandavision) plays Mir Dar, a hardworking son whose eager to impress his father, Baba — a scrappy immigrant who arrived in the U.S. broke and built an empire from scratch. Ms. Marvel actor Saagar Shaikh plays Mir’s brother Raj, who’s a pot-smoking and entitled playboy who lives the high life on his father’s millions.

Best known for her work in the critically acclaimed The Marvelous Ms. Maisel, Alfie Fuller plays Prairie, Raj’s shaman, an “Afro-futurist” hipster who lives with him and various other hangers-on in stoner heaven luxury.

Acclaimed Director Ganatra Helmed the Pilot

The half-hour, 10-episode series was created by Abdullah Saeed and developed by Jenni Konner and Nora Silver under Jenni Konner Productions. Michelle Nader, who also serves as showrunner, is an executive producer alongside Saeed, Konner, Silver, and Vali Chandrasekaran.

Nisha Ganatra was executive producer and director on the pilot, and her level of involvement in the full series is expected to be announced soon. Ganatra was awarded the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for film craft. She directed the Sundance hit film Late Night starring Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling and most recently, Welcome to Chippendales for Hulu.

Here is a look at the trailer for Late Night…

There are more updates ahead for Deli Boys, and we expect to have them for you here in the months ahead.

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