Aaron Sorkin casts Dev Patel in 'More As This Story Develops' pilot
High-profile writer/producer Aaron Sorkin is preparing for a return to television with More As This Story Develops, a HBO pilot about the controversial world of cable news. The latest cast announcement is Dev Patel, most famous for his starring role in Slumdog Millionaire.
Patel will be playing yet another staffer at the cable news show that More As This Story Develops portrays, under the sensationalist anchor (Jeff Daniels) and no-nonsense executive producer (Emily Mortimer, who was cast instead of Marissa Tomei). Other announced stars include Olivia Munn, Alison Pill, and Sam Waterston.
Patel made his break in the 2009 Best Picture winner, Slumdog Millionaire, which took home eight Oscars all in the same night. Patel himself was nominated for both a BAFTA and a Saturn Award. Before his film debut, Patel was featured in the original UK version of Skins. Afterwards, he played a starring (and regretable) role as Prince Zuko in M. Night Shymalan’s The Last Airbender.
More As This Story Develops (a tentative title) is… developing nicely. Jeff Daniels seems to be an excellent choice for a Bill O’Reilly/Glenn Beck/Kieth Olbermann type, and while Tomei might have been a higher-profile pick for the female lead, no one can deny Emily Mortimer’s quality work in Shutter Island or Lars And The Real Girl. Pixar fans can hear her voice as Holley Shiftwell in Cars 2.
If it’s picked up, the series will be a return to television for Sorkin after conquering theaters with The Social Network. Sorkin is a TV veteran, writing and producing critically-lauded shows like Sports Night, The West Wing and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
The subject couldn’t be more topical, as the networks and personalities reporting the news are often getting as much attention and scrutiny as the events they report on. In a political climate as divided as the current one, citizens are rallying behind their news sources almost as much as elected officials – indeed, oftentimes more so.
More As This Story Develops is currently in production, with Greg Mottola (Paul,Superbad) directing. Should HBO order an initial season, expect a premiere sometime in 2012.
Follow Michael on Twitter: @MichaelCrider
Source: Variety
Michael Crider blogs at Screen Rant.
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