Three decades after the release of the Jim Carrey-led dark comedy, Hulu has ordered a comedy pilot inspired by the film, with Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. set to star and executive produce.
According to Deadline, the project is not being positioned as a remake but as a new story that draws from the original premise while updating it for a very different media landscape.
Produced by Sony Pictures Television, the untitled pilot comes from writers Rob Rosell, known for his work on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” alongside “Cobra Kai” collaborators Joe Piarulli and Luan Thomas.
Hulu’s Version Brings Chip Douglas Into the Streaming Age
While many film-to-television adaptations take only broad inspiration from their source material, Hulu’s project is maintaining a direct connection to “The Cable Guy.” Johnson and Wayans Jr. will portray updated versions of Chip Douglas and Steven Stephens, the characters originally played by Jim Carrey and Matthew Broderick in the 1996 picture directed by Ben Stiller.
The new series shifts the story into a world dominated by streaming services, binge watching and algorithm driven entertainment. According to the official logline, Chip is now an old fashioned cable technician struggling to find his place in an era that has largely moved beyond the service he represents. His life changes when Steven reaches out to have his cable reconnected, reviving a friendship that Chip has never forgotten.
At first, the relationship appears mutually beneficial. Both men find something they have been missing in their lives, but the dynamic gradually becomes more complicated as Chip’s eagerness begins to cross boundaries. The premise echoes the original film’s blend of comedy and discomfort while exploring themes of loneliness and connection through a modern lens.
Released in 1996, “The Cable Guy” followed an eccentric cable installer who inserted himself into the life of a reluctant customer after a chance encounter. The picture earned more than $100 million worldwide and, despite receiving mixed reviews at the time, later developed a devoted cult following. Its darker tone also marked a notable departure from the broader comedies that had made Carrey one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Whether the pilot ultimately moves forward to a full series remains to be seen, but Hulu’s order signals renewed interest in a film whose themes of media dependency and social isolation may be even more relevant today than they were thirty years ago.
