Bob Odenkirk Has a New Dramady Series in Development at AMC Titled STRAIGHT MAN
It looks like Bob Odenkirk already has a new show lined up at AMC as Better Call Saul is coming to an end. He’s set to star in a dramady series titled Straight Man, which is based on the Richard Russo novel of the same name. The series has been put on fast-track of development.
The series is described as “a mid-life crisis tale set at Railton College, told in the first person by William Henry Devereaux, Jr. (Odenkirk), the unlikely chairman of the English department in a badly underfunded college in the Pennsylvania rust belt.”
Here’s the description from the book:
William Henry Devereaux, Jr., is the reluctant chairman of the English department of a badly underfunded college in the Pennsylvania rust belt. Devereaux's reluctance is partly rooted in his character--he is a born anarchist--and partly in the fact that his department is more savagely divided than the Balkans.
In the course of a single week, Devereaux will have his nose mangled by an angry colleague, imagine his wife is having an affair with his dean, wonder if a curvaceous adjunct is trying to seduce him with peach pits, and threaten to execute a goose on local television. All this while coming to terms with his philandering father, the dereliction of his youthful promise, and the ominous failure of certain vital body functions. In short, Straight Man is classic Russo—side-splitting, poignant, compassionate, and unforgettable.
Dan McDermott, president of entertainment and AMC Studios for AMC Networks said in a statement, “Bob Odenkirk is just as good as it gets. We feel so fortunate to be developing a new show that would keep him at AMC after ‘Better Call Saul’ and ‘Breaking Bad,’ two iconic series that have been beloved by millions of fans and helped define AMC and its reputation for unforgettable characters and high-quality storytelling for adults. We’re also thrilled to be working again with our partners at Sony Pictures Television and Mark Johnson’s Gran Via to explore this compelling material.”
The series is being adapted by Aaron Zelman and Paul Lieberstein, who will also serve as co-showrunners. Odenkirk will also be an executive producer and Peter Farrelly (Green Book, Dumb & Dumber) is set to direct and executive produce.
Odenkirk shared in a statement, “I loved Paul and Aaron’s take on Richard’s excellent, entertaining novel,” Odenkirk said. “Once again a project with AMC with a focus on character depth and sensitivity. This milieu (academia) seems very pertinent to the conversations we’re all having. I am drawn to the tone of humanity and humor in the novel and I look forward to playing this role – something lighter than my recent projects but still closely observed and smart.”
This sounds like it will be a great project for Odenkirk to be a part of! In the meantime, I’m looking forward to watching the final season of Better Call Saul!