Viceland, the cable channel from VICE Media and A+E Networks, has picked up its first-ever scripted series with the six-episode What Would Diplo Do? a comedy written by and starring James Van Der Beek as a fictional version of the titular musician. Diplo serves as an executive producer alongside Brandon Dermer and Kevin Kusatsu. Dermer will also direct.
“I’ve enjoyed deconstructing my own image quite a bit over the years, but to have the chance to do it with a global megastar like Diplo who’s letting us to do something fun and ridiculous that few people have the balls to allow is crazy,” said Van Der Beek. “To get to work with this creative team within a VICELAND aesthetic is fun on a whole new level.”
“When James was in the office a few weeks ago, he told me the story lines he had sketched out, they were, of course, funny; one even got me emotional which made it that much more funny. This idea has gotten inside James which makes me really excited to see what he makes and happy to have it on our channel,” said VICELAND co-president and Academy Award winning filmmaker Spike Jonze.
Viceland Co-President Eddy Moretti added: “I’m excited to have this show on the channel. It’s hilarious. It’s weird. James’ interpretation of Diplo is like a modern cipher into which we can read the whole of human existence…or not. Having built the first incarnation of VICELAND around the solid bedrock of our non-fiction shows, I’m really looking forward to experimenting with scripted shows in the future. It’s fun.”
In the series, Van Der Beek, who will also serve as show runner, plays a fictional version of the international musical force Diplo in collection of parables about life as told through the eyes of guy who can bring 60,000 people to their feet… but kind of sucks one-on-one. Described as Louie meets WorldStar HipHop crossed with This Is Spinal Tap, W.W.D.D. is not about being a DJ; it’s about being human…or at least trying to be.
The roots of the project began as “A Day in the Life,” an online concert promo for Diplo’s “Mad Decent Block Party” starring Van Der Beek and produced by the same creative team. The series is slated to premiere later in 2017.
