‘Koala Man’ Showrunners Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit Sign New Deal With 20th Television Animation

On Monday, as Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit celebrated the release of their new adult animated series Koala Man, the duo extended their relationship with Disney by signing a multi-year deal with Disney subsidiaries 20th Television Animation and ABC Signature.

Here’s what has been announced about the deal:

• Under the terms of the new deal, Hernandez and Samit will create, develop, write, and produce animation (at 20th Television Animation) and live-action (at ABC Signature) shows through their production company Hermit House. They’re currently developing Talk Nerdy to Me at CBS and their next project is to write a feature film based on Figment, the mascot of Epcot’s Imagination Pavilion at Walt Disney World in Florida. They also have unannounced projects in development at Lucasfilm and Walt Disney Pictures.

• Koala Man, available now on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ abroad, is the first title to be released under the duo’s deal with Disney. The two developed the series and serve as showrunners, and executive produce with Michael Cusack and Justin Roiland.
• Hernandez and Samit previously wrote screenplays for the features Pokémon Detective Pikachu (with Rob Letterman) and The Addams Family 2 (with Ben Queen). They’ve also worked together on series including Central Park, Super Fun Night, 1600 Penn, One Day at a Time, and The Tick. The two also recently executive produced Ultra Violet & Black Scorpion for Disney Branded Television.
• 20th TV Animation executive vp Marci Proietto and ABC Signature president Jonnie Davis said in a joint statement: “Dan and Benji are wildly talented writers with a truly unique sensibility and a hilarious voice. We have been obsessed with their work for years and are very excited to continue our relationship in animation with them and are thrilled to expand their development into live action within our studio.”
• In their own joint statement, Hernandez and Samit said: “We’re so excited to expand our creative partnership with 20th Television Animation and ABC Signature. Working with Marci Proietto and Chris Cikowski as well as Jonnie Davis and Tracy Underwood has been a dream come true. We hope we can be together forever, or at least until the kids go to college.”