HBO gets a lot of top-notch directors, actors, writers, producers and showrunners interested in creating TV for the subscription cable channel, but today the company made an announcement that exceeds all kinds of expectations. HBO has picked up a rock ‘n’ roll based drama set in New York in the 1970s and is moving forward with the untitled project to series. Go ahead and prepare for plenty of drugs, sex, and music and then some more drugs, sex and music.
You should also brace yourself for the totally incredible list of names that are already attached to the untitled rock and roll project. Let’s go ahead and start with the behind-the-scenes people, as those names are impressive. Martin Scorsese will be teaming up with Terence Winter to executive produce the series; the two formerly worked together on Boardwalk Empire. Like that HBO drama, Scorsese will also be directing the pilot. Winter will also act as showrunner and will write the pilot for the series. But that’s not all! Mick Jagger—as in founder of The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger--is signed on to executive produce, because if anyone knows rock ‘n’ roll, it’s that dude. Reportedly, Jagger’s the creative mind behind the initial idea, as well.
Honestly, we’ve been hearing about the potential of the still-untitled rock ‘n’ roll project for years now. But about a year ago, Bobby Cannavale signed on to play lead Richie Finestra, a man who heads up a record label and who totally crushes in the business. However, Finestra will find himself facing a “life-altering decision” which will cause a bit of a personal crisis. It’s nice to see the actor get the lead in a series as high-profile as this one. In fact, the man's had a pretty good relationship with HBO in the past, crushing one of the most incredible gangster roles Boardwalk Empire offered. Now that Scorsese, Cannavale and especially Winter are free to pursue new projects again, it's kind of like getting the band back together, pun intended.
Also cast are Olivia Wilde as Finestra’s wife Devon, Ray Romano as Finestra’s business partner Zak Yankovich, Juno Temple as a young record employee looking to get ahead, and Andrew Dice Clay as a cocaine user and owner of a set of radio stations. The rest of the cast has also been fleshed out and like Boardwalk Empire looks to be a large ensemble cast, including James Jagger, Ato Essandoh, Max Cassella, Jack Quaid, Birgitte Sorenson, P.J. Byrne, J.C. MacKenzie, Bo Dietl, Armen Garo, Robert Funaro and Joe Caniano. To throw a few more names at you, Rick Yorn, Victoria Pearman, Emma Tillinger Koskoff and George Mastras will also executive produce.
Despite the fact that the new series still doesn’t have a title, it’s nice to see the drama finally get off the ground. This isn’t the only new series HBO has announced in recent weeks. The network also recently signed on for Westworld, a brand new series based on the movie of the same name. There’s definitely some good stuff coming, and we’ll keep you posted as we move closer to premiere dates.
