Music

James Van Der Beek is going to play Diplo in new series

by Jeremy Mersereau

You know you’ve made it as a cultural phenomenon when James Van Der Beek is writing, producing, and starring in a series based on your life – and that’s exactly what’s happening to American DJ, label owner, and Major Lazer mainstay Diplo.

The show is called What Would Diplo Do? – well, that’s the working title, anyway – and will feature Van Der Beek in the lead role as everyone’s favourite artwork thief and EDM train conductor. Per Deadline, Viceland has ordered six episodes of the series, which is described as “Louie meets WorldStar HipHop crossed with This Is Spinal Tap”. Sounds, uh, eclectic. “Louie meets WorldStar HipHop crossed with This Is Spinal Tap” sounds like the distillation of every millennial with a Soundcloud account’s self-image, so that should play well with the under-35 crowd.

The series started to take shape after Van Der Beek played Diplo in a promotional video last year for his label Mad Decent:

“The show doesn’t take itself too serious but it’s not cynical,” Van Der Beeksaid about WWDD? “I’ve enjoyed deconstructing my own image quite a bit over the years, but to have the chance to do it with a global megastar like Diplo who’s letting us to do something fun and ridiculous that few people have the balls to allow is crazy”. I agree, it is crazy to have the outsize ego that would allow a project like this to go forward, especially with that title.