TNT has added two new original dramas to its 2016 slate. Good Behavior, starring Michelle Dockery (“Downton Abbey”) and Argentine-Spanish actor Juan Diego Botto (1492: Conquest of Paradise, El Greco) in an adaptation of the Letty Dobesh novels by “Wayward Pines” author Blake Crouch. Also getting the greenlight is Animal Kingdom, starring Emmy and Tony winner Ellen Barkin (Sea of Love, This Boy’s Life, Oceans 13) as the matriarch of a Southern California family whose excessive lifestyle is fueled by their criminal activities, with Scott Speedman (The Strangers, The Vow) as her second in command. Shawn Hatosy (“Southland,” “Reckless”), Ben Robson (“Vikings,” Dracula: The Dark Prince), Jake Weary (“Pretty Little Liars,” It Follows), Finn Cole (“Peaky Blinders,” “An Inspector Calls”), Daniella Alonso (“Revolution”) and Molly Gordon (Love the Coopers, Ithaca) also star.
Animal Kingdom reunites TNT with executive producers John Wells (“ER,” “The West Wing,” “Shameless”) and Jonathan Lisco (“Halt and Catch Fire,” “Damages,” “NYPD Blue”), who previously collaborated on the network’s Peabody Award-winning drama “Southland.” Good Behavior is being executive-produced by Chad Hodge and author Blake Crouch, who also worked together on this past summer’s critically-acclaimed “Wayward Pines.”
“Good Behavior and Animal Kingdom are muscular, distinct dramas that will define the new direction of TNT,” said Sarah Aubrey, executive vice president of original programming for TNT. “We believe audiences will love watching Michelle Dockery trade in her manners for the life of a sexy, complex ex-con in Good Behavior and Ellen Barkin and Scott Speedman command an unruly family of criminals and adrenaline junkies in Animal Kingdom.”
TNT has ordered 10 episodes of Animal Kingdom, which is inspired by the feature film of the same name. TNT also ordered 10 episodes of Good Behavior. Production is set to begin on both dramas in early 2016, with plans to premiere them later in the year. Descriptions are included below.
Good Behavior tells the story of Letty Dobesh (Dockery), a thief and con artist whose life is always one wrong turn, or one bad decision from implosion – which is exactly how she likes it. Fresh out of prison, Letty tries to stay afloat; reunite with her 10-year-old son, who is currently being raised by her mother Estelle (Strus); and regularly see her substance-abuse counselor, Christian (Kinney), whose motives for helping her are questionable. Chaos returns to Letty’s life when she overhears a hitman (Botto) being hired to kill a man’s wife, and sets out to derail the job. She soon finds herself on a collision course with the killer, entangling both of them in a dangerously captivating relationship.
TNT’s Good Behavior is being executive-produced by writer/showrunner Chad Hodge and author Blake Crouch (“Wayward Pines”), along with executive producers Marty Adelstein and Becky Clements of Tomorrow Studios, a partnership between ITV Studios and Marty Adelstein. The pilot was directed by Charlotte Sieling.
Animal Kingdom centers on 17-year-old Joshua “J” Cody (Cole), who moves in with his freewheeling relatives in their Southern California beach town after his mother dies of a heroin overdose. Headed by boot-tough matriarch Janine “Smurf” Cody (Barkin) and her right-hand Baz (Speedman), who runs the business and calls the shots, the clan also consists of Pope (Hatosy), the oldest and most dangerous of the Cody boys; Craig (Robson), the tough and fearless middle son; and Deran (Weary), the troubled, suspicious “baby” of the family. Also prominent are Nicky (Gordon), J’s steady girlfriend, and Catherine (Alonso), Baz’s de facto wife and the mother of their 3-year-old daughter, Lena.
It isn’t long before Josh is pulled into the family’s life of indulgence and excess, but he soon discovers that it’s all being funded by criminal activities. Joining the family comes with more danger and excitement than he might be ready to handle.
Animal Kingdom is produced by John Wells Productions in association with Warner Horizon Television, with Emmy winner John Wells and Jonathan Lisco serving as executive producers of the series. Wells directed the pilot from a script by Lisco. Andrew Stearn also executive-produced the pilot. The project is inspired by the award-winning feature film produced by Liz Watts and written & directed by David Michôd, who will also serve as executive producers on the series.
