It’s been a couple of years since any news was heard about the then-titled History of Music, a rock ‘n’ roll drama for HBO, created by Martin Scorsese, Terence Winter and Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. And when it comes to a series about music, hearing things is what you want to do.
Start the drum roll, because the non-untitled project appears to be back in business and could soon be going into production on a pilot, according to The Hollywood Reporter, with Bobby Cannavale set to play the lead role of a coked-up record executive. Cannavale has been a pay cable go-to guy the last couple of years, with an Emmy-nominated stint on Showtime’s Nurse Jackie, and a well-received role on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, created of course by Scorsese and Winter, proving that they’re convinced Cannavale has what it takes to front what will be a high-profile series. The idea was pitched by Jagger, who originally took the project to both Disney and Paramount. Winter will be writing the script, and Scorsese himself will direct. Given the director’s long history with musical projects – such as the Stones doc Shine a Light - this thing will almost undoubtedly be a success.
Cannavale will play Richie Finestra, whose name makes me want to slap him. He’s the head of A&R at American Century Music in New York City circa 1977, when punk, disco and hip-hop all come together to create a wall of different sounds and conflicts. I’m guessing the cocaine is to take the edge off.
Cannavale is currently on Broadway in The Big Knife, so I’m guessing we’ll be hearing the slow trickle of casting news until everyone’s ready to begin filming, and also hoping that actual musicians get involved.
