David Walliams has kept an unusually low profile since stepping away from Britain's Got Talent in 2022, but the British comedian and author appears to be testing the waters on this side of the Atlantic.
Industry insiders say he's been quietly taking meetings in Los Angeles, and at least one streaming platform is circling a project that would put him back in front of American audiences for the first time in years.
For viewers who know him mainly as the cheeky judge with the sharp one-liners, the pivot may come as a surprise.
Walliams built a second career as one of the UK's best-selling children's authors, with titles like Gangsta Granny and The Boy in the Dress selling millions of copies worldwide.
Several of those books have already been adapted for British television, and the rights to a handful of others are reportedly in play.
That back catalogue is exactly why Hollywood is interested.
Family-friendly franchises are gold for streamers hunting the next big binge, and Walliams owns a library that's largely untapped in the US market.
A source close to the discussions described the talks as "early but serious," with an emphasis on adapting existing material rather than building something from scratch.
His stateside profile got an unexpected boost this year when clips of his old sketch work recirculated on TikTok, racking up millions of views from users too young to have watched the original broadcasts.
The revival of interest in his comedy partnership history has also fueled nostalgia posts, though Walliams himself has stayed silent on the speculation.
Walliams has faced scrutiny in the British press over past remarks and his departure from the talent show, and some commentators wonder whether American audiences will embrace him without that baggage.
His team has largely avoided addressing the controversy directly, betting instead that new work will do the talking.
What's clear is that Walliams isn't done performing.
Whether that means a streaming series, a book-to-screen deal, or another reality judging gig, he seems intent on writing his own second act rather than letting the tabloids script it for him.
If the LA rumors pan out, he could become one of the more interesting transatlantic imports of the next TV season — a comedian, author, and provocateur rolled into one very recognizable package.
The smartest move here would be a full pivot to scripted family comedy, where his writing instincts outshine his panel-show persona.
American viewers are forgiving of a messy past if the material lands, and Walliams has decades of it.
Final Thoughts
The real question is whether he wants the spotlight back badly enough to earn it again.