Duplass Brothers, HBO Bring Series to Illinois

HBO has a new comedy series, and all signs point to filming in Illinois this summer. But no, not in Chicago. In the small town of Lockport, Illinois, 30 miles outside of the city.

Last July, HBO gave a series order to SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE, a comedy starring and executive produced by PATTI CAKE$ star Bridget Everett. Production was delayed due to the national pandemic, but the series now appears ready to roll. Sources tell SCREEN filming is expected to begin May 23rd and run through July 2nd.

Executive Producers on the series include the Duplass Brothers, Mark and Jay, with Jay having directed the pilot, which was initially titled “Emporia.” That pilot filmed quietly in October of 2019 in Lockport, prompting the expected return to the small town of around 25,000 for the full ten-episode series, sources tell SCREEN.

It’s All About Bridget

Created by Executive Producers Hannah Bos (HBO’s HIGH MAINTENANCE) and Paul Thureen (DRIVEWAYS), SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE is inspired by the life of comedian and singer Bridget Everett and is set in her native Kansas. Sam (played by Everett) is a true Kansan on the surface but beneath it all struggles to fit the hometown mold. As she grapples with loss and acceptance, singing is Sam’s saving grace and leads her on a journey to discover herself and a community of outsiders that don’t fit in but don’t give up. SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE shows finding your people, and finding your voice, is possible. Anywhere. Somewhere.

Everett leapt from the comedy circuit to the big screen with her performance in Sundance fave PATTI CAKE$, and is now set to headline her own series. “As a born and bred Kansan, I’m thrilled to share some of the beauty and complexity of the place that I grew up,” said Everett in a statement. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamt of making a show on HBO. I’m so grateful to Amy Gravitt, Casey Bloys and the entire HBO family for their faith in SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE. Special thanks to LL Cool J for the words to live by, ‘DDHD. Dreams Don’t Have Deadlines.’”

If you are hearing about Bridget Everett for the first time, here is a hilarious clip from a recent live performance (Warning: there is some swearing and hilarious profanity in this clip):

Rounding out the Executive Producer ensemble are former president of HBO’s entertainment division Carolyn Strauss (HBO’s CHERNOBYL) and Patricia Breen (HBO’s BETTY). The camera team will be led by Director of Photography Shana Hagan.

Sources tell SCREEN the series will indeed be filming in the Lockport/ Lemont/ Naperville area, picking up where the pilot left off, but those locations will be confirmed further as production dates approach. Check back here at Screen Magazine for breaking news and updates as SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE premiere dates, cast, and crew are announced.

Photo Credit: Mark Duplass Photo by Vanessa Lua is licensed under the Creative Commons CC BY-SA 2.0 License.