HBO Orders Comedy Anthology Series From Jay and Mark Duplass

'Room 104' centers on the various occupants of a single room at an average American hotel.

Eric Ray Davidson
Jay (left) and Mark Duplass
Jay and Mark Duplass are returning to HBO.

The pay cabler has ordered a comedy anthology series from the brothers, who were behind the now-canceled comedy Togetherness, it was announced Thursday.

Titled Room 104, the project is set in a single room of an average American hotel and tells a different story of the assorted characters who pass through the room in each episode. Production begins later this year for a 2017 debut. The Duplass brothers will serve as showrunners on the comedy, and also exec produce with Xan Aranda. Sydney Fleischmann is attached to produce.

“Jay and Mark Duplass are two of the most inventive talents in TV today,” HBO programming president Casey Bloys said in a statement. “We’re excited to see what they do with this unique concept.”

Added the Duplass brothers: “We’ve all seen stories set in seedy motels and high-class international resorts, but for years we’ve been fascinated by the funny, weird, sad, scary, absurd things going down in that corporate chain hotel near the airport. That’s what Room 104 is after … finding some magic in the seemingly mundane.”

The series is part of Jay and Mark Duplass’ overall deal with HBO that dates back to 2015. In addition to Togetherness, which ended in March after two seasons, the duo are also behind HBO’s animated comedy series Animals, which earned a two-season pickup in 2015 and premiered earlier this year.

In addition to their TV credits, the Duplass brothers are known for their extensive credits in the film world, including Cyrus, Jeff Who Lives at Home and their breakout credit, The Puffy Chair. In addition to their overall deal with HBO, the Duplass brothers have a four-film pact with Netflix. They are repped by ICM Partners and Sloane Offer.

Anthology series have become increasingly more popular in recent years thanks to the success of American Horror Story and Fargo, among others. While many of these have been dramas, anthology comedy series are on the rise. TBS recently ordered a comedy anthology series from Greg Garcia, The Guest Book, which centers on a small-town vacation home and its visitors.

Room 104 joins HBO’s original comedy slate, which includes the recently renewed Ballers, Veep, Silicon Valley, Girls and Vice Principals. The pay cabler is getting ready to debut new half-hours Divorce, Insecure, High Maintenance, Barry and Crashing. HBO also has a long-awaited ninth season of Curb Your Enthusiasm expected to begin production later this year.