Barack Obama is headed to HBO Max for a Larry David sketch comedy series.
The former president will join David’s upcoming sketch series Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America. The show will reimagine key moments in U.S. history through David’s signature cringe-comedy lens.
David revealed new details about the project—including its title, release date, and sprawling cast—during a SXSW talk in Austin alongside his longtime collaborator Jeff Schaffer, who directs the series, per DailyBeast.
Obama is set to make a cameo appearance in one of the seven-episodes, which premieres June 26.
In the trailer below, David plays a sailor moments after the famous V-J Day in Time Square photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt that shows a U.S. Navy sailor kissing a woman in the street after victory over Japan. However, the hearty ending he hoped ends in David being labelled a “pervo Nazi.”
During the SXSW panel, David and longtime collaborator Jeff Schaffer joked about their time working with the former president on the show.
Schaffer revealed that Obama once spent 45 minutes praising David before gently offering a note on a sketch. David’s response? Not exactly deference.
“On Curb and Seinfeld, I’m used to being the boss,” David explained. “Obama is also quite used to being the boss. We came to a bit of a loggerhead there.” David’s proposed compromise: “I said, ‘I’m president here’.”
Obama’s Higher Ground company helms production with David, Schaffer, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Vinnie Malhotra and Ethan Lewis executive producing.
According to the official logline, “President and Mrs. Obama wanted to honor America’s 250th anniversary and celebrate the unique history of our nation on this special occasion. …But then Larry David called.”
Casting information is being kept fairly loose, but there has been a promise that “the series will feature select Curb Your Enthusiasm actors and noteworthy guest stars.”