Julia, a new drama about the life of Julia Child, has been ordered for a full series by HBO Max. Child, who is set to be played by Susan Lancashire of Happy Valley, was the mother of the cooking show, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
David Hyde Pierce (Frasier) will star alongside Lancashire as Child’s husband, Paul, replacing Tom Hollander (Rev., Pride & Prejudice), who was originally cast for the role at the beginning of 2020, before he pulled out due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s complicating of travel, according to Deadline.
Through Child, the series will explore the emergence of public television, feminism and the women’s movement, the nature of celebrity, and America’s cultural growth, according to a WarnerMedia press release.
Sarah Aubrey, head of originals at HBO Max, said Child is needed now more than ever.
“We are so happy to help bring the incomparable Julia Child back to the small screen, when we need her more than ever,” Aubrey said, according to the WarnerMedia press release. “This show’s look into her life, marriage, and trailblazing career as she transformed the way we talk about food is an absolute delight.”
In addition to Lancashire and Pierce, the show will also star Brittany Bradford, Fran Kranz (The Cabin in the Woods, Dollhouse), Bebe Neuwirth (Frasier, Madam Secretary) and Fiona Glascott (Brooklyn), with Isabella Rosselini (Blue Velvet, Joy) and Jefferson Mays (Perry Mason) guest starring in the pilot, according to Deadline.
The pilot was written by Daniel Goldfarb of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and directed by Charles McDougall, who is known for directing episodes of Desperate Housewives and Queer as Folk, according to Deadline. Both Goldfarb and McDougall will executive produce alongside showrunner Chris Keyser, as well as Erwin Stoff and Kimberly Carver of 3 Arts Entertainment, according to Variety.
News of Julia comes just after HBO Max’s Sex and the City revival, And Just Like That… was announced earlier this week.