Showtime‘s forthcoming limited series Patrick Melrose continues to add to its impressive cast list.
Oscar nominee Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Matrix‘s Hugo Weaving and The Crown‘s Anna Madeley have signed on for the Benedict Cumberbatch-starrer, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Based on the acclaimed series of semi-autobiographical novels written by Edward St. Aubyn, Patrick Melrose hilariously skewers the upper class as it tracks the protagonist’s harrowing odyssey from a deeply traumatic childhood through adult substance abuse and, ultimately, toward recovery.
Each of the five episodes, which will be co-produced by Sky Atlantic, is devoted to one of the five novels. The series will encompass the saga of Patrick Melrose’s life, from his horribly abusive youth at the hands of his father (Weaving) and the mother who tacitly condones the behavior (Leigh) to the outrageous playboy he becomes and the struggles he endures to defy the damage of his own past. The story will cover periods including the South of France in the 1960s, New York in the 1980s and Britain in the early 2000s.
Meanwhile, Madeley will play Melrose’s wife.
One Day author and screenwriter David Nicholls is set to adapt all five installments, which will all be directed by Edward Berger (Deutschland 83). Michael Jackson, Rachael Horovitz (Moneyball, Grey Gardens), Adam Ackland and Cumberbatch will executive produce.
For Leigh, the role brings her back to Showtime, where she can currently be seen on the pay cabler’s revival of Twin Peaks. She will next star in the Netflix comedy Atypical. Her film credits include The Hateful Eight, Road to Perdition and Margot at the Wedding.
In addition to his breakthrough role in the Matrix, Hobbit and Lord of the Ring trilogies, Weaving‘s credits include V for Vendetta and Captain America: The First Avenger.
Madeley‘s credits also include In Bruges, Brideshead Revisited and Mr. Selfridge.
Berger, who is also directing AMC’s upcoming The Terror, is repped by ICM and Anonymous Content.
via The Hollywood Reporter