Dust off your Doc Martens. One of the most iconic animated shows of the ’90s is getting a fresh update, but it won’t be starring the monotone, sarcastic Daria Morgendorffer. Instead, her friend Jodie Landon takes the spotlight in a spinoff simply entitled Jodie. Tracee Ellis Ross of Black-ish fame will be voicing the main character and executive producing the series.
The show will follow Jodie, a black female Gen Z-er, as she navigates life after college in her first job while tackling the concept of privilege and racial and gender identity in a humorous way.
Jodie“I am thrilled to bring this project to life with MTV,” the actress said in a statement. “Being able to give voice to fresh, feminist and unexplored stories of young women excites me. With the brilliant, sweet, and sarcastic black girl magic that is Jodie Landon, we will feature a diverse cast, comprised mainly of unapologetically smart and ambitious young female characters who are vulnerable and flawed and interesting and funny.”
Insecure writer and co-producer Grace Nkenge Edwards is the creator and head writer while MTV’s Trevor Rose, Morgana Rosenberg, and Amy Doyle will executive produce with Ross.
Jodie will also be the first adult animated series to feature a black female lead in nearly two decades.
“It will be a smart, funny workplace comedy full of commentary about everything from gentrification to sex to tech to call-out culture,” Ross added.
“Given the passion for these characters, there was only one person who could build upon the legacy to reimagine Jodie for a whole new generation, and that person is Tracee Ellis Ross,” said Chris McCarthy, president of MTV. “This marks another exciting step forward for MTV Studios as we build out a wide new slate based on the rich characters from the history in MTV Animation.”