Bobby Cannavale Headshot - P 2011
Getty ImagesHBO has found its music executive in a familiar face.
Bobby Cannavale, who had a season-long arc on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, is near a deal to star in the premium cable network’s untitled Rock ‘n’ Roll drama pilot in development, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The period drama, which has been in the works for years, follows the exploits of a cocaine-fueled record executive in New York City circa 1977, when punk, disco and a new form of music called hip-hop collided.
Cannavale will star as Richie Finestra, a handsome and charismatic New Yorker who burns the candle at both ends. He’s head of A&R at American Century Music.
The drama, previously known as History of Music, hails from Boardwalk Empire‘s Terence Winter and Martin Scorsese, the latter of whom will direct and executive produce. Winter will pen the script and exec produce. The project is based on an idea from Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger — who conceived the entry as a film first at Disney and then at Paramount. He will exec produce with his Jagged Films partner Victoria Pearman, and Scorsese’s manager Rick Yorn and Emma Koskoff. The drama marks a reunion for Scorsese, Jagger and Pearman, who collaborated on the 2008 documentary Shine a Light.
The project reunites Cannavale with HBO, for whom he played Gyp Rosetti on the third season of Boardwalk Empire.
Cannavale, who earned an Emmy win for his guest turn in Will & Grace and Emmy nomination for Nurse Jackie, is repped by ICM Partners, Framework Entertainment and Schreck Rose. The accomplished stage actor also earned Tony noms for his roles on Broadway’s Mauritius and The Mother F—er With the Hat. He is currently on Broadway in Clifford Odets‘ The Big Knife.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit
