Demi Lovato is set to return to television acting with a new comedy series entitled, Hungry. Lovato, who shot to fame through her roles in Disney Channel's Camp Rock and Sonny With a Chance, is no stranger to acting. The 28-year-old pop star also had recurring appearances in hit shows such as Will and Grace and Glee. Should Hungry be greenlit to a full-season series, it will mark Lovato's big comeback to the silver screen following her widely publicized personal struggles and substance abuse.
Hungry is a single-camera show that follows a group of friends with food issues as they help each other navigate life, love, success, "and the perfect thing in the fridge that’s going to make it all better." NBC had given the project a pilot commitment back in January but was shelved due to the filming restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now, Hungry has finally secured a pilot order from the network, Variety confirms. Aside from acting, Lovato will also serve as one of the show's executive producers, along with writer Suzanne Martin, Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner, Scooter Braun, Scott Manson, and James Shin. The comedy hopes to bring light to eating disorders and how it affects many people across the globe.
Hungry will be Lovato's first acting project since releasing her highly emotional docuseries, Dancing With The Devil. In the four-part YouTube documentary, the singer bravely revealed her struggles with addiction, body issues, and even sexual abuse. It also detailed the incidents surrounding her much-talked-about overdose back in 2018.
Because of this, Hungry is a deeply personal project for Lovato. The superstar has always spoken about her own struggle with food and how body issues ultimately led her to turn to alcohol, drugs, and self-harm. In 2010, Lovato's fans were shocked when their idol, then only 18 years old, canceled her tours and entered rehab for substance abuse.
Quite recently, many celebrities are starting to come out and advocate for self-love and body positivity. Because of this, it's become easier for Hollywood to tackle eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia. One such film to have done so was Netflix's To The Bone (2017) starring Lily Collins. NBC'S Hungry, being a comedy series, would likely tiptoe around the topic in a much lighter tone. But knowing Lovato and her passion to inspire her fans, her latest project will surely take a mindful approach on the highly relevant issue.
Source: Variety