Hulu Greenlights Pilot for DC High School Drama 'Young Americans' from 'Handmaid's Tale' Producer

Hulu has ordered a pilot for "Young Americans," a high school drama set in Washington D.C. from writers Chris Hutton and Eddie O'Keefe, with Bruce Miller, known for "The Handmaid's Tale," serving as executive producer, according to Deadline. The pilot is one of several currently in contention at Hulu, joining other projects including "Lex," "Durango" starring Cooper Hoffman and Kathryn Newton, "Chicks" starring Ellen Pompeo, and Ryan Coogler's "X-Files" reboot pilot for Hulu's Onyx Collective featuring Danielle Deadwyler, as reported by Variety.

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VarietyHulu Orders 'Young Americans' Drama Pilot from Bruce Miller and Eddie O'KeefeDeadlineHulu Orders 'Young Americans' DC High School Drama Pilot from Hutton, O'Keefe, and Bruce Miller

"children of the nation's elite at Capitol Crest Academy, where their teenage dramas mirror their parents' political games"

Deadline described the series as "Romeo and Juliet against the backdrop of DC politics," a framing that sets the teen angst of the privileged against the high-stakes maneuvering of Washington power players. Variety confirmed the pilot order and credited O'Keefe as writer, while noting Miller's involvement as producer.

The project brings together a seasoned showrunner in Miller, whose dystopian drama "The Handmaid's Tale" earned multiple Emmys, with newer voices Hutton and O'Keefe. The setting of Capitol Crest Academy, a school for the children of the nation's elite, suggests the series will explore how teenage rivalries and romances echo the political games of their parents.

As Hulu continues to develop a slate of pilots across genres, "Young Americans" joins a competitive field that includes a high-profile "X-Files" reboot from Ryan Coogler, per Variety. Whether the DC high school drama makes it to series order will likely hinge on the strength of its pilot and its ability to balance political intrigue with teen storytelling.