Showtime Orders Drama ‘American Gigolo’

Showtime has greenlit the drama series “American Gigolo” based on the 1980 film of the same name, starring Jon Bernthal (“Ford v Ferrari”,” The Walking Dead”) and written and directed by David Hollander “Ray Donovan”). Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced the original film, will executive produce along with Jonathan Littman and KristieAnne Reed. Bernthal also serves as a producer. The logline: Jon . Bernthal will play Julian Kaye, who is introduced 15 years after he’s been arrested for murder and struggling to find his footing in the modern-day Los Angeles sex industry, while seeking the truth about the set-up that sent him to prison all those years ago and also hoping to reconnect with Michelle, his one true love, played by Gretchen Mol (“Boardwalk Empire”).

“American Gigolo” is a production of Paramount Television Studios. Additional casting includes Rosie O’Donnell as homicide Detective Sunday, Lizzie Brocheré (“Falling Water”) as sex work ring heiress Isabelle, Gabriel LaBelle (“Dead Shack”) as a younger version of Julian named Johnny, Leland Orser (“Ray Donovan”) as Richard Stratton, a self-made tech billionaire, and guest star Wayne Brady as Lorenzo, Julian’s best friend and mentor.