Jodie Whittaker has joined Ellen Pompeo in the Hulu dramedy pilot ‘Chicks’, taking one of the two central roles in a story about estranged half-sisters drawn together after their father’s death. The casting matters because it pairs a high-profile British actor with Pompeo in a project that also reflects Hulu’s renewed interest in developing pilots rather than relying mainly on straight-to-series commissions.

The series is set in gentrifying old Boston and follows Chickie, played by Pompeo, and Doreen, played by Whittaker, who inherit not money but a minor criminal legacy that leads them into increasingly bold frauds. Whittaker’s character is described as tough, restless and eager for her sister’s approval, while Pompeo will also executive produce through her Calamity Jane banner; Katie Robbins is writing and executive producing, with 20th Television as the studio. Hulu announced the pilot in June, and its current slate also includes projects such as Ryan Coogler’s ‘X-Files’ reboot, ‘Southern Bastards’ and ‘Durango’.