Brace yourselves, folks, because this one is almost too good to be true. FilmmakerCary Fukunagakicked off a longform storytelling trend by directing every episode of the tremendous first season of HBO’sTrue Detective, and after a sojourn back to feature film territory with his gripping dramaBeasts of No Nationit appears that Fukunaga is ready to head back to TV in a big way. PerTHR,Emma StoneandJonah Hillare set to star in a dark comedy series calledManiac, for which Fukunaga is set to likely helm every episode.
The show is based on a 2014 Norwegian series about a mental institution patient who escapes to a fantasy world in his brain where he’s a hero and everything’s grand. Already this offers a number of visual opportunities, and given the immense skill of Fukunaga as a filmmaker, this is a fantastically promising fit.
Paramount TV and Anonymous Content are currently shopping the project to various outlets, seeking a straight-to-series order for potentially two seasons, with Fukunaga likely onboard to direct each installment. The search is underway for a writer but given the talent involved here—Stone and Hill are equally adept at comedy and drama—one has to imagine this is gonna incite a bidding war of epic proportions.
Hill and Stone first shared the screen together inSuperbad, which launched both of their careers. The two have subsequently gone on to become Oscar nominees, but it’s nice to see they aim to reteam for another comedic-leaning project. Stone recently wrappedWhiplashfilmmakerDamien Chazelle’s musicalLa La LandoppositeRyan Goslingfor release this December and is set to star as Billie Jean King in the biopicBattle of the Sexes. Hill, meanwhile, hasTodd Phillips’War DogsoppositeMiles Telleropening later this year, and is due to reteam withChanning Tatumfor Sony’sMen in Black/Jump Streetcrossover film. While the duo have busy schedules, one imagines the prospect of teaming up again is enticing, and the involvement of Fukunaga only sweetens the deal.
The filmmaker was previously developing an ambitious two-film adaptation ofStephen King’sItbeforecreative differences led him to depart. He’s currently working on the TNT drama seriesThe Alienist, which has its sights set onGarrett Hedlundto star, but one imaginesManiacwill become a top priority once it gets off the ground and the schedules for Hill and Stone clear. Fukunaga, Stone, and Hill will all executive produce the series with Anonymous Content’sMichael SugarandDoug Wald.
So yeah, I think the Second Golden Age of Television is firmly here to stay, at least for the next few years.
