Amazon is hoping thatRainn Wilsonis a good-luck charm when it comes to American remakes of hit British TV shows, asThe Officealum has joined the cast of its drama seriesUtopiaalongsideSasha Lane(American Honey), Collider has learned.
Based on the British series of the same name,Utopiafollows a group of young adults who meet online to discuss an underground graphic novel that appears to depict real conspiracy theories. This puts them in position to save the world – and in grave danger.
Wilson will play Michael Stearns, a once-promising virologist who has lost his edge and is now a forgotten scientist – under-appreciated and underfunded in his laboratory work. When a nationwide outbreak of a deadly flu arises, Michael offers his expertise, and soon finds himself in the middle of something much bigger.
Utopiahails fromGone GirlscribeGillian Flynn, who will serve as showrunner. She’ll also executive produce alongside originalUtopiacreatorDennis Kelly, whose series became a cult hit over the course of two six-episode seasons between 2013 and 2014. Amazon has ordered a nine-episode first season ofUtopia, which is a co-production between Endemol Shine North America, Kudos, and Amazon Studios. Executive producers also includeSharon Hall,Karen Wilson,Diederick SanterandJessica Rhoades, the latter of whom worked with Flynn on HBO’s limited seriesSharp Objects.Sharon Levywill oversee production for Endemol Shine.
The American remake ofUtopiastarted life at HBO withDavid Fincherset to direct and executive produce andRooney Maraset to star, though ultimately, Fincher and HBOdidn’t see eye to eye on the budgetand both parties walked away from the project.
