HBO Gives Two-Season Order to Animated Comedy ‘Merrick & Treves’ From ‘Archer’ Alums

HBO has given a two-season order to the new half-hour animated comedy “Merrick & Treves,” which comes from three alums from FX’s long-running “Archer”: Adam Reed, Casey Willis and Lucky Yates.

Here’s the logline: “Set inside Queen Victoria’s top-secret Royal Temporal Constabulary, ‘Merrick & Treves’ follows a team of unlikely heroes as they voyage back and forth through time in an effort to stop Jack the Ripper.”

Reed was the creator/exec producer of “Archer,” while Willis was also an exec producer while Yates was one of the show’s principal voice-over actors, playing Dr. Algernop Krieger and others. The trio also worked together on Adult Swim’s “Frisky Dingo.”

For “Merrick & Treves,” Reed, Willis and Yates will serve as co-creators and executive producers.

“Adam, Casey and Lucky are exceptional comedic talents whom we have admired for years,” said HBO programming exec VP Amy Gravitt, who is the head of HBO & HBO Max comedy series. “We couldn’t be more excited to team up with them to bring the wholly original ‘Merrick & Treves’ to HBO audiences.”

Also on the show, TFC Productions’ Joel Begleiter will executive-produce with Kelly Wu serving as co-executive producer.

“The three of us are beyond excited to have found a home for ‘Merrick & Treves’ at HBO,” Reed, Willis and Yates said in a joint statement. “We can’t wait to start working with the creative team behind so many of our favorite shows. It’s actually quite daunting, now that we think about it. Like, holy shit, y’all. HBO.”

If the names “Merrick & Treves” sound familiar, it’s because you may remember “The Elephant Man”: Joseph Merrick is the name of the deformed individual who became famous after being exhibited in the late 1800s, while Frederick Treves was the young doctor who cared for him at London Hospital.

“Archer” ran for 14 seasons and 145 episodes between 2009 and 2023 on FX/FXX. The series won four Primetime Emmys, including outstanding animated program. Reed is also known for “Chozen,” “Sealab 2021,” “12 oz. Mouse” and acting in “Robot Chicken.” Willis is known for voice roles on “Frisky Dingo,” “Sealab 2021″ and more before turning to producing. Yates’ other credits include “Exploding Kittens,” “Cake” and “Hidden America With Jonah Ray.”