‘Perfect Couple’ Star Sam Nivola Joins Connie Britton in Hulu Comedy Pilot ‘Phony’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Sam Nivola is set for a lead role in the Hulu comedy pilot “Phony,” Variety has learned exclusively.

Nivola will star in the pilot alongside Connie Britton, whose casting was announced in October with the pilot order.

The pilot is described as a coming-of-age mystery. The official logline states that it follows “a teenager (Nivola) who wakes up in the hospital after a car accident to discover his mom (Britton) — his only parent and his best friend — appears to have been replaced by an impostor.”

Nivola’s character is named Sonny, who is further described as “the most beloved student at his high school. But the only person who really knows him is his mom.”

Nivola was most recently seen in the hit Netflix series “The Perfect Couple,” in which he starred as Will Winbury. The show topped the Netflix Top 10 English language TV chart upon its release and remained on the chart for over a month. Nivola is perhaps best known for his breakout role in the Noah Baumbach film “White Noise,” in which he starred opposite Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig. His other credits include films like Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro” and “Eileen” and the miniseries “The Pursuit of Love.” He is next set to appear in the upcoming third season of “The White Lotus” at HBO.

Nivola is repped by UTA and Narrative.

Nick Paley serves as writer, executive producer, and director on the pilot. Britton will executive produce in addition to starring. Charlie Alderman of Charlie’s Production Company also executive produces along with Drew Goddard and Sarah Esberg via Goddard Textiles. Andrea Massaro of Goddard Textiles will produce. 20th Television is the studio. It had previously been set up at ABC Signature, but that studio was recently folded into 20th TV.