Natasha Rothwell’s upcoming Hulu/Onyx Collective comedy series, How to Die Alone, has added cast members.
The series, created by Insecure‘s Natasha Rothwell and ABC Signature, has cast How to Get Away with Murder‘s Conrad Ricamora, The Other Two‘s KeiLyn Durrel Jones and New Amsterdam‘s Jocko Sims as series regulars. GLOW and Sherman’s Showcase star Bashir Salahuddin will star as a recurring guest. Rothwell will headline the series as the main character, Melissa.
The series follows Melissa, who is described as a “fat, Black neurotic who’s never been in love.”
“After a comical brush with death, she refuses to settle for anything less than the life she wants, catapulting her on a journey to becoming ‘100% that bitch’ in real life by any means necessary,” according to the description.
Ricamora will play Melissa’s “well-meaning best friend” Rory, who is also described as “[s]elf-involved, boy-crazy” and “love-starved.”
“Rory loves to have a good time at all costs and is blind to his privileges — having been adopted by an über wealthy Upper East Side family. His father, the CEO of JFK, is embarrassed by Rory and his winding path in life,” according to the description. “When his JFK crush, a bicoastal bae named Ben, shows interest in him, Rory finds himself experimenting with monogamy for the first time … and holding on for dear life.”
Durrell Jones will play Terrance, “an Air Force veteran and one of Melissa’s closest friends on the tarmac at JFK.”
“Terrance has a thirst for adventure that inspires Melissa,” states the description. “Their chemistry and his sense of humor keep Mel cracking up and hanging out with him on her smoke breaks. Mel is the brightest spot in his day, and he genuinely wants to help chase her dreams, but when he tries to hold her accountable, it sends her running in the opposite direction.”
Sims is Alex, described as Melissa’s “current boss and former fling.”
“Alex is the one that got away. For Alex, Melissa is the one who unceremoniously sent him packing,” according to the description. “Engaged to be married but still working closely with Mel, Alex can’t help but audit what went wrong in their workplace situationship as he gets closer to walking down the aisle with his fiancée Julie.”
Salahuddin plays Brian, “Melissa’s holier-than-thou, know-it-all, CPA older brother.”
“Unhappily married with two kids, he resents Melissa for her aimlessness and his mother for depending on him as ‘man of the house’ but still finds himself helping them out, against his better judgment,” according to the description. “It’s no wonder he needs a drink or two to help him unwind every night.”
Along with starring in the series, Rothwell will also write and co-showrun through her overall deal with ABC Signature and Onyx Collective via her company, Big Hattie Productions. Vera Santamaria will also co-showrun and executive produce with Rothwell. Desiree Akhavan and Jude Weng will also executive produce.
