Issa Rae's HBO Boxing Pilot Casts Two Leads

Shane Paul McGhie and Dasan Frazier will lead Issa Rae's new HBO comedy pilot about two friends trying to break into professional boxing in Las Vegas.

The project is working under the title Untitled Male Friendship Show. It is a half-hour comedy pilot, meaning HBO has ordered a single test episode to decide whether to commission a full series. McGhie and Frazier are set as its two central roles, according to Deadline.

McGhie plays Menzel, who is 28, cuts hair for a living and wants to make it as a sports manager. Frazier plays JB, who is 27 and building a career as a boxer. The story centres on the two men as they navigate ambition and early success in the professional fight business. The action is set in Las Vegas.

Rae has written the pilot and will serve as an executive producer, a senior credit that includes creative and business responsibility for a programme. Prentice Penny will act as showrunner, the person who leads the writers' room and oversees day-to-day production, and will also executive produce and direct the pilot. Jax Clark will executive produce for Hoorae. Jonathan Berry and Dave Becky will executive produce for 3 Arts Entertainment.

McGhie brings a run of television and film credits. His previous roles include Poker Face, Abbott Elementary, Grey's Anatomy and The Last Shift. Frazier will also appear in a recurring role, meaning he will appear in multiple episodes without joining the main cast, in Delphi, Prime Video's series from the Creed universe.

There is no series order yet. That is normal at this stage. A pilot is a trial. HBO will watch the finished episode before deciding whether to proceed, change direction or pass entirely.

For viewers, this means patience is needed. Casting is often the first public sign that a pilot is moving forward. A shoot, an edit and a decision by executives still have to follow before any air date can be discussed.