‘Private Practice’s’ Amy Brenneman to Co-Star in HBO’s ‘Leftovers’

Private Practice‘s Amy Brenneman is heading to HBO.

The actress has been tapped to play Justin Theroux‘s wife in the premium cable network’s adaptation of Tom Perrotta‘s The Leftovers, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Based on the book of the same name, The Leftovers takes place as the Rapture happens — but not quite like it’s supposed to. The drama, from Damon Lindelof, tells the story of the people who didn’t make the cut and a world that will never be the same.

Theroux will play Kevin Garvey, the police chief and father of two who’s trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy in a world that is starting to completely reject the notion. Brenneman will portray Laurie Garvey, a woman who has left her entire life behind to join a mysterious cult and cuts off ties with her husband and children.

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Emily Meade (Boardwalk Empire) also will join the cast as a series regular playing Amy, an uninhibited high school student who seemingly takes the apocalypse in stride. Jake Robinson (The Carrie Diaries) will recur as the guy we all wish we were in high school.

The trio join a cast that also includes Liv Tyler as Meg, a young woman about to be married who needs an escape. She becomes a target for recruitment by members of an enigmatic cult. Should The Leftovers earn a series order, it would mark Tyler’s first small-screen regular role. Tony nominee Carrie Coon, former Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston, Ann Dowd and Amanda Warren co-star.

Lindelof will co-write and executive produce the Warner Bros. TV effort with Perrotta. Joining the pair as executive producers are Ron Yerxa, Albert Berger, Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey. Berg also will direct The Leftovers pilot.

For Brenneman, the role marks her first project since ABC’s Private Practice ended its six-season run in January. Repped by CAA and Mosaic, her credits also include Judging Amy and Frasier.

Meade is repped by Innovative, Authentic Talent and Literary Management and Peikoff Mahan; Robinson is with Innovative Artists and Laurie Smith at Smith Talent Group.

Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit