Mystery series Phony starring Connie Britton gets greenlight from Hulu

Hulu is adding a new original series to its lineup: Phony, a half-hour mystery comedy starring Connie Britton and Sam Nivola. Phony was created by Nick Paley (Broad City), who serves as co-showrunner with Anthony King (The Afterparty). Hulu initially ordered a pilot in October 2024 and has now greenlit a full season.


Connie Britton

The story follows Sonny (Sam Nivola), a popular high school student who wakes up in the hospital after a car accident and discovers that his mother, Ellen (Connie Britton)—also a school principal and single parent—may have been replaced by an imposter. While Sonny is loved by everyone at school, Ellen is the only one who truly knows him. Hulu describes the series as a coming-of-age mystery.

Sam Nivola continues his rise on American television after starring in The Perfect Couple (Netflix) and season three of The White Lotus (HBO).

Connie Britton, who also starred in the first season of The White Lotus, recently starred in Zero Day (Netflix) and Dear Edward (Apple TV+).

Disney's 20th Television is producing Phony. Paley and King are executive producers alongside Britton, Charlie Alderman (through Charlie's Production Company), and Drew Goddard & Sarah Esberg of Goddard Textiles.


Sam Nivola