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- What the series is about: family, fraud, and shifting Boston neighborhoods
- Pompeo’s role on camera and behind it
- How the idea came together: the creative team and inspiration
- Casting status and what we still don’t know
- Production timeline and filming location
- Will Chicks affect Pompeo’s involvement with Grey’s Anatomy?
Ellen Pompeo is back on the small screen in a fresh role that pairs acting with producing. Hulu has ordered a pilot titled Chicks, and Pompeo will lead the cast while helping steer the show behind the scenes.
What the series is about: family, fraud, and shifting Boston neighborhoods
The story centers on two half-sisters who reconnect after their father’s sudden death. The sisters live in an older Boston neighborhood facing rapid gentrification. Their inheritance is not money, but a small-time criminal legacy.
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Out of necessity, they begin pulling off increasingly daring cons. As their schemes escalate, the women develop an unusual partnership. The series explores family bonds, survival, and how urban change reshapes identity.
Setting and tone: Expect a dramedy that mixes streetwise humor with emotional beats. The show leans into local color and the tensions of a changing city.
Pompeo’s role on camera and behind it
Pompeo will portray Chickie, one of the lead sisters. She is attached as an executive producer through her Calamity Jane banner. That means she will help shape both performance and production choices.
This project follows Pompeo’s recent work on Hulu’s limited series Good American Family, which premiered in 2025. That series marked her first major commitment after reducing her schedule on Grey’s Anatomy.
Why this matters: Pompeo has been a TV mainstay since joining Grey’s Anatomy in 2005. While she stepped back from a full-time role after season 19, she has continued to return as a guest star and remains a producer on the long-running drama.
How the idea came together: the creative team and inspiration
Writer Katie Robbins conceived the concept behind Chicks. Reports say Robbins developed the idea after talking with Pompeo on the set of Good American Family. Robbins wrote with Pompeo in mind.
Pompeo and producer Laura Holstein will executive produce the pilot under the Calamity Jane imprint. The collaboration blends Robbins’s fresh voice with Pompeo’s television experience.
Key production credits and roles
- Lead actor: Ellen Pompeo as Chickie
- Creator / writer: Katie Robbins
- Executive producers: Ellen Pompeo, Laura Holstein
- Production company: Calamity Jane
- Platform: Hulu (pilot ordered)
Casting status and what we still don’t know
As of June 2026, Pompeo is the only name officially confirmed for the cast. Additional roles and guest stars have not been announced.
Hulu has ordered a pilot episode rather than a full season. That means the network will assess the pilot before committing more episodes.
Production timeline and filming location
Industry reporting indicates the pilot is expected to begin filming in New York City in September 2026. That timeline applies to the pilot only, not a full season.
- Order status: Pilot ordered by Hulu (June 2026)
- Planned shoot start: September 2026
- Primary location: New York City (production base for the pilot)
Note: Timetables can shift depending on scheduling, cast availability, and studio decisions.
Will Chicks affect Pompeo’s involvement with Grey’s Anatomy?
Because Hulu has greenlit only a pilot, Pompeo’s recurring appearances on Grey’s Anatomy should be unaffected for now. She still makes guest appearances on the long-running ABC drama.
If Hulu orders a full season of Chicks, scheduling conflicts could arise. Production commitments for a series tend to be longer and more demanding than a pilot.
Bottom line: A pilot order allows Pompeo to test a new creative direction while preserving her ability to return to Grey’s Anatomy in limited capacity.
