In early August, buzz began to stir around a mysterious TV project from David O. Russell, the powerhouse writer-director behind titles like Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, and Joy. Attached to star were equally top-notch industry names Robert De Niro and Julianne Moore, both of whom have spent the bulk of their careers in film. At the time, few details had been released about the potential show, including whether it would be a regular or limited series, though early reports suggested it was likely a crime thriller set in the 1990s, and was being shopped around at both cable networks and streaming services.
Chatter has been relatively quiet in the ensuing months, but now some details have begun to trickle out. Now it appears that the series has found a home at Amazon, and that De Niro and Moore are confirmed as leads. In addition, the as-yet-untitled series will be produced by The Weinstein Company.
As reported by Deadline, exact details about the new program's premise remain fuzzy, though it’s said to be a mafia crime series and is believed to be serialized. Russell will write and direct all episodes, while Scott Lambert, Alexandra Milchan, and Anapurna Pictures founder Megan Ellison are all on board as producers. According to the report, the project has received a two-season commitment in a $160 million deal, with each season consisting of eight episodes.
The high-profile package marks a large shift into television for Russell, De Niro, and Moore alike. Aside from a late 2000s stint behind Outer Space Astronauts, Russell’s credits have been almost exclusively geared toward film. De Niro, who had large parts in both Silver Linings and Joy, has done one-off episodes for 30 Rock and Extras, but is famously known for his movie roles. Moore, an Academy Award winner, had a six-episode guest spot on 30 Rock and made brief appearances on Difficult People and Inside Amy Schumer, but hasn’t done any substantial TV work since she acted on As The World Turns in the ‘80s.
The move follows Hollywood’s increasing pull toward television. Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, and Halle Berry are among the A-listers who have turned to the small screen in recent years, and with success. Both McConaughey and Harrelson earned Emmy nominations for their work on True Detective, and though Extant was short-lived, Berry’s performance soared.
A fresh environment may add new dimension to De Niro and Moore’s celebrated careers, and it will be exciting to see them extend their talents.
Screen Rant will have more details on this Amazon project as they are made available.
Source: Deadline