HBO Orders ‘Skate Kitchen’ Inspired Skater Girl Comedy Series

Months after HBO revealed a series based on Crystal Moselle’s indie film Skate Kitchen in development, the project finally finds a cast, a title, and a major series order. The show, now titled Betty, is officially on the HBO slate with six episodes to look forward to. Original cast members Rachelle Vinberg, Nina Moran, Moonbear, Dede Lovelace and Ajani Russell are set to reprise their roles. However, no release has been set for the series.

Inspired by Moselle’s 2018 Sundance film, Betty is set against the backdrop of New York. At its center is a diverse group of young women trying to navigate their way in the predominantly male-oriented world of skateboarding.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, production has already begun in New York with Moselle directing. She is also tied to co-creator, writer, and executive producer duties together with longtime friend and collaborator Lesley Arfin. Jason Weinberg and Igor Srubshchik will executive produce. Michael Sherman and Matthew Perniciaro of Bow and Arrow Entertainment, together with Rodrigo Teixeira of RT Features will co-executive produce. Izabella Tzenkova of Kotva Films and Lizzie Nastro will produce.

Meet the Skate Kitchen Girls

Skate Kitchen was based on a real-life all-female skate collective Moselle found by chance while taking the subway. It centers around the story of Camille (played by Vinberg) an outsider whose love for skateboarding led her to the Skate Kitchen crew. Expounding on her character for the series, Camille is described as perceptive and intelligent. She forgives but she doesn’t forget. And one thing she doesn’t realize is that she’d be happier if she realizes that cool points don’t actually add up to the sum of anything.

Moran will be back as Kirt, the funniest person in the crew. She’s a lover, a fighter, and a little kid in the body of a woman. Meanwhile, Moonbear will be reprising her role as Honeybear, an individual fond of outlandish clothes. And she’s someone who uses her individuality as a cover for the fact that she keeps her emotions on lock.

Lovelace will be taking on the role of Janay again, who is described to be the person you’d pick to be the captain. She’s opinionated, intelligent, loyal to a fault, strong-willed, and big-hearted. Lastly, Russell will be stepping back into the shoes of Indigo, the fun, flirty girl who’s always down for an adventure. However, Indigo also happens to be the type of person who would steal your wallet and then help you look for it afterward.

In addition to Skate Kitchen, the five ladies previously worked with Moselle in That One Day, another project inspired by the real-life Skate Kitchen. Moselle’s other projects include the Grand Jury prize award-winning documentary The Wolfpack and a collaboration with Pharrell Williams in Meet the Bae’s. Her most recent project is Our Dream of Water, a National Geographic documentary short series featuring the water crisis in Haiti, Kenya, and Peru.

Moselle’s work on Betty will now be joining HBO’s growing roster of scripted originals such as Euphoria, His Dark Materials, and Succession.