Peacock has picked up Poker Face, a ten-episode mystery series from director Rian Johnson (Knives Out, Star Wars: The Last Jedi) and MRC Television, that will star Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll, Orange Is the New Black), according to Deadline. His first series, Johnson is creator, writer, director and an executive producer for Poker Face.
Johnson will executive produce with Ram Bergman (Knives Out, Brick) and Nena Rodrigue (The Three-Body Problem), both of Johnson’s own T-Street production banner. Lyonne also executive produces under her own Animal Pictures, with Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids, Away We Go) and Danielle Renfrew Behrens (Night Comes On, Waitress), also of Animal Pictures.
No official description for the show has been released, but Johnson did tease Poker Face’s mystery leanings in a statement.
“I’m very excited to dig into the type of fun, character driven, case-of-the-week mystery goodness I grew up watching. It’s my happy place,” Johnson said, according to Deadline. “Having Natasha as a partner in crime is a dream, and we’ve found the perfect home at Peacock.”
Lisa Katz, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming’s president of scripted content, said Johnson and Lyonne are a great duo for the project.
“Rian Johnson’s distinct sensibility and talent for telling edge-of-your-seat mysteries is a massive gift for Peacock, and we can’t wait for audiences to delve into each case,” Katz said, according to Variety. “Paired with the acting genius of Natasha Lyonne, this series will be entertaining and addictive.”
Poker Face is the fourth series order MRC has received in the last year, according to Deadline. The series joins Amazon’s conspiracy thriller, The Terminal List and Apple’s Shining Girls and dark comedy Shrink Next Door, which stars Will Ferrell (Anchorman, Step Brothers) and Paul Rudd (Ant-Man, I Love You, Man).
Elise Henderson, president of MRC Television, shared her excitement at Johnson and Lyonne’s collaboration in a statement.
“Rian is a gifted writer and director who draws you in with his unique approach to mystery,” Henderson said, according to Variety, “and we’re so proud to partner with him, and Ram, and to have Natasha Lyonne as our lead and land this phenomenal show at Peacock with a talented team.”
Lyonne, who is co-creator, writer, director, executive producer and star of Netflix’s Russian Doll is also working on the series’ second season.