Adam Pally to Star in New Zealand Comedy Series 'The Sanctuary'

Variety

by varietyschneider

February 24, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Adam Pally, best known for his roles in *Happy Endings* and *The Mindy Project*, has been cast as the lead in *The Sanctuary*, a new New Zealand comedy series. In the show, Pally will portray an eccentric American billionaire who is hiding from the law on his private island in New Zealand. To avoid extradition, he is forced to transform his luxurious property into a Department of Conservation sanctuary. Created by Joseph Moore and Laura Daniel, the eight-episode series is set to air on Sky’s Three network in New Zealand and will also be available on the streamer ThreeNow. While no U.S. distribution deal has been announced yet, the series marks another step in Pally’s successful comedy career. Pally’s involvement in *The Sanctuary* follows a long list of projects that highlight his comedic talent and versatility. In addition to his roles on *Happy Endings* and *The Mindy Project*, he has appeared in series like *Making History*, *Indebted*, and the Peacock comedy *Mr. Throwback*, which he also executive produced. He has also starred in several films, including Paramount’s *Sonic the Hedgehog* franchise, Netflix’s *FUBAR*, and *Iron Man 3*. Pally is also known for his work behind the camera, having executive produced Comedy Central’s *The President Show* and co-hosting the SmartLess Media podcast *Staying Alive with Jon Gabrus and Adam Pally*. His latest project includes an upcoming role in Sam Mendes’ *The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event*, where he will play the controversial manager Allen Klein. This new series, *The Sanctuary*, adds to Pally’s growing body of work and further cements his reputation as a leading comedic actor. While New Zealand has become known for producing unique and innovative comedies like *Taskmaster NZ*, *

Verticals

entertainmentfilm

Originally published on Variety on 2/24/2026