Benicio del Toro is set to star opposite Ben Stiller in Apple TV’s new comedy series Protective Custody, Variety reports.
The show was originally announced in May with Stiller starring and executive producing. This is del Toro’s first lead series comedy role in his career and also reunites him and Stiller. The two previously co-starred in the Showtime limited series “Escape at Dannemora,” directed by Stiller and starring del Toro. Both received Emmy nominations for their work on the show.
The logline for “Protective Custody” says the show “follows a disgraced investor (Stiller) who is accused of massive fraud and placed in protective custody, where he must navigate prison politics, restore his reputation, and face the consequences of his actions while awaiting trial.”
The exact details about del Toro’s character are being kept secret.
Del Toro is one of the most famous actors of his generation. He has been nominated for three Oscars, won Best Supporting Actor in 2001 for “Traffic,” and also won a Golden Globe. He has also been nominated for “21 Grams” and “One Battle After Another,” the latter of which also earned him a Golden Globe nomination. His other notable film credits include “Sicario” and “Sicario: Day of the Soldado,” Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch” and “The Phoenician Conspiracy,” and “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.”
He is repped by LBI Entertainment, Range Media Partners and Hansen Jacobson.
Mike Judge co-wrote Protective Custody with Steve Healy and Dave King. All three are executive producers and co-showrunners, with Judge also serving as director. Stiller will star in Red Hour and also serve as an executive producer. Red Hour’s John Lesher, Propagate Content’s Ben Silverman, Howard Owens, and Rodney Ferrell will also serve as executive producers. Michael Rothenberg and Ollie Obst will serve as executive producers for 3 Arts Entertainment. Nanette Burstein will also serve as executive producer.
