HBO Developing IVF Comedy ‘Counterfeit’ From Andrew Gettens, Lauren Mackenzie & Jessica Rhoades

HBO has put in development Counterfeit, a half-hour comedy from husband-and-wife writing duo Andrew Gettens and Lauren Mackenzie (Hit & Run) and Jessica Rhoades’ (Sharp Objects) Pacesetter Productions, as part of Rhoades’ first-look deal with the premium cable network.

Written by Gettens and Mackenzie, Counterfeit centers on a couple, desperate to have a child, who learn there’s no way for them to conceive the old-fashioned way. And with no resources (and a loudly ticking biological clock) they start counterfeiting money to pay for IVF. Gettens & MacKenzie conceived of the idea for Counterfeit while going through their own struggles with IVF.

Gettens and Mackenzie will executive produce with Rhoades via her Pacesetter Prods.

Gettens and MacKenzie are a married writing team who started working together after collaborating on a best man speech for MacKenzie’s brother in 2014. They have since risen through the TV ranks to their current position as co-executive producers on the upcoming Netflix series Hit & Run. Their previous credits include, Sacred Lies (Facebook Watch), Chance (Hulu), No Tomorrow (CW), American Gothic (CBS), The Returned (A&E), Complications (USA) and Elementary (CBS).

Rhoades most recently executive produced HBO’s limited series Sharp Objects, based on the novel by Gillian Flynn, adapted by Marti Noxon, starring Amy Adams and directed by Jean-Marc Vallée. She also serves as executive producer of Showtime’s The Affair, having joined the series in its fourth season. The drama is heading into its fifth and final season.

Rhoades will reteam with Gillian Flynn on the Amazon Studios straight-to-series drama Utopia, which is based on the hit Channel 4 series. Rhoades is executive producing the show as well as Mike Daniels’ drama series The Village, which premieres in March on NBC.

Gettens & MacKenzie are repped by CAA and Literate; and Tara Kole at Gang Tyre. Rhoades is repped by WME Entertainment and Adam Cooper at Jackoway Austen Tyerman.