Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon to Star in Series About TV Morning Shows

More than a decade after Friends wrapped its run, star Jennifer Aniston is plotting her return to the small screen.

In one of the largest TV packages to date, Aniston and Reese Witherspoon are attached to star in an untitled series exploring morning shows and the larger New York media scene that they inhabit.

The package, which has not yet hit the market, is expected to be taken out to premium cable outlets like HBO and streaming services including Netflix. Given the stars attached, it is expected to draw significant interest from multiple bidders.

The project is based on an original idea and is being spearheaded by former HBO head of drama Michael Ellenberg and his newly launched film and TV production company Media Res. Jay Carson (House of Cards) is attached to pen the script and exec produce. Academy Award nominee Steve Kloves (Wonder Boys, Harry Potter) will executive produce. Witherspoon will also executive produce alongside her Hello Sunshine banner topper Lauren Levy Neustadter. Aniston also will be credited as an executive producer.

Aniston and Witherspoon, who memorably guest starred as Aniston’s younger sister on Friends, have remained friends over the years.

The news comes as Witherspoon recently garnered an Emmy nomination for HBO’s Big Little Lies, with a potential second season in early development at the premium cabler. Aniston’s husband, Justin Theroux, is fresh off his three-season run starring on HBO’s The Leftovers.

For her part, Aniston earned five Emmy nominations and won one for her role as Rachel Green on NBC’s Friends. She also earned a guest star Emmy nom for her turn on the network’s 30 Rock. On the film side, her credits include We’re the Millers, Just Go With It and Marley & Me. She is repped by CAA, Lighthouse Management and Hansen Jacobson.

Witherspoon, who has been active on the development side, won an Oscar for her role in Walk the Line and also scored a nomination for Wild. She is repped by CAA, LBI Entertainment and Hansen Jacobson.

Since leaving HBO, Ellenberg has focused on development and has teamed with Bron Studios to launch Media Res. The company’s first project in the works is Scenes From a Marriage, a limited-series take based on the five-hour 1973 film, with In Treatment’s Hagai Levi and playwright Amy Herzog attached.

For Kloves, the untitled morning show drama would be his first TV series. His feature credits include the Harry Potter franchise, The Fabulous Baker Boys and Jungle Book. He is with CAA.

Carson, repped by Management 360, has been with Netflix’s House of Cards for the past three years, serving as a supervising producer and political consultant.

(THR)