Michael Kenneth Williams (Boardwalk Empire, The Wire) has been confirmed as the lead in author Eric Jonrosh’s latest book-to-screen adaptation, The Spoils Before Dying.
Will Ferrell will play Jonrosh, the booze-soaked author turned director who opens and closes each captivating episode. The six-part comedic miniseries will be released this summer on IFC.
This show surrounds a murder mystery set in the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles’ jazz scene. The Spoils Before Dying follows down-and-out pianist Rock Banyon (Michael Kenneth Williams) who becomes the prime suspect when his lead singer and occasional lover is found violently murdered in a car with another man. With the death of two people hanging over his head, Rock has only 72 hours to clear his name or fry in the electric chair. Determined to prove his innocence, Rock goes on an elusive quest for the truth that takes him into an abyss of sex, murder, love, betrayal, and of course, jazz.
“We’ve been spoiled by the talent we’ve been able to attract to this franchise,” said Jennifer Caserta, IFC’s president. “We know Michael will bring the same swagger of his previous larger-than-life roles to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore a dangerous world that was too hot for television.”
The Spoils Before Dying will be produced by Funny Or Die and executive produced by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, Matt Piedmont, Andrew Steele and Nate Young. Matt Piedmont will also be directing and writing. Andrew Steele will assist Piedmont in writing.