Jamie Dornan, Alec Baldwin, and Christian Slater are set to star in Universal Content Productions’ new show Dr. Death. According to Deadline, Dr. Death is a limited series based on the Wondery podcast named Dr. Death. Other hit shows based on the Wondery podcast are Amazon’s Homecoming, which stars Julia Roberts, and Bravo’s Dirty John, which stars Connie Britton. Both series have been picked up for second seasons.
Dr. Death follows the life of sociopathic Dr. Chirstopher Duntsch, played by Dornan, who is known for his work on Once Upon A Time and Fifty Shades of Grey. Duntsch is a rising neurosurgeon in the Dallas medical community, but his treatments tend to leave the patients suffering. As patients to go to him for help with routine spinal surgeries they tend to leave him permanently maimed or dead. As his body count grows two other surgeons and an Assistant District Attorney work to stop him.
Baldwin, known for his work on 30 Rock, is set to play Robert Henderson, who is a quiet, patient, and methodical neurosurgeon who believes in the system he rose up through the ranks. He believes that nothing should be rushed, and it should be done right.
Slater, known for his role in Heathers, will play Randall Kirby, a vascular surgeon, who is the opposite of Henderson, He is brash, impulsive, and willing to destroy the system he was brought up in for justice. He believes there is a time and a place for patience and a time and a place to get things done. The duo will constantly be at odds with each other as the only thing keeping them together is their end goal.
According to Deadline, Dr. Death was acquired by UCP before the podcast even premiered. The show will be executive produced by Patrick Macmanus, known for his work on Marco Polo. Macmanus has an overall deal with UCP, who is currently working to get the show on a network or streaming service. Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, and Wondery’s Marshall Lewy are also executive producers on the show.