Amy Poehler is preparing to return to live-action television after a hiatus of more than ten years. The comedy star, who has recently focused on podcasting and animation, will star in a new series titled Dig. This project marks her first return to the small screen since the conclusion of Parks and Recreation in 2015.
The new show is a collaboration between Poehler and Mike Schur, the creator of Parks and Recreation. The series adapts the bestselling novel Excavations by Kate Myers. The story follows a team of archaeologists and college students who spend the summer working at a dig site in Greece. Their investigation takes a turn when they uncover a rare artifact that has the potential to rewrite history. This discovery leads the group into a dangerous international conspiracy.
The cast includes notable performers such as Hugh Laurie, Geraldine Viswanathan, Antonia Thomas, and Fina Strazza. Poehler revealed that she approached Schur with the specific idea to adapt Myers' book into a television series. She noted that the source material offered an ideal setting to assemble a group of talented comedic actors.
Speaking at the Los Angeles premiere of the show on Monday, Poehler explained the appeal of the archaeological setting. She described the environment as strange, noting that some characters possess deep knowledge of the field while others are completely unfamiliar with its operations. She also highlighted that the script provided strong roles for women and that the team early on decided they wanted Laurie to lead the excavation.
Since the end of her previous hit series, Poehler has remained largely away from live-action TV. Her recent work includes starring in the animated blockbuster Inside Out 2 and directing several films. She acknowledged that the landscape of television has changed significantly since her last show, for both positive and negative reasons.
Poehler stated that she took her time figuring out her next move. She felt that returning to the screen with Schur was the best option for her career. She described the process as waiting for the right project to come along rather than forcing a return.
Although the creative team shares a history from their previous collaboration, Poehler emphasized that Dig is tonally distinct from their earlier work. She characterized the new series as a tight ten-episode puzzle box mystery. The structure is designed to keep viewers engaged by creating a strong desire to watch the next episode to see how the plot unfolds.
Schur clarified that the new series is not a continuation of Parks and Recreation. However, he and Poehler aimed to recapture the specific feeling that audiences associated with their previous show. They wanted the viewing experience to be enjoyable and fun, using that vibe as a guiding principle for the new production.
J.J. Philbin, Schur's wife and the co-showrunner for Dig, added to the discussion. She noted a thematic crossover between the two shows, observing that both feature good people who care deeply about their work and about each other. This focus on character dynamics serves as a central element of the new series.
Dig will begin streaming on Peacock on November 23. The release follows a period of anticipation for fans of Poehler's live-action work and the creative team behind her past successes.
