Deadline reports that the Netflix dark comedy Dead to Me has landed James Marsden (Westworld, X-Men) and Ed Asner (Up, Elf) as co-stars. They’ll join the previously announced Linda Cardellini and Christina Applegate. Applegate will also serve as an executive producer on the show, along with Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. The three will produce along with Jessica Elbaum (I’m Sorry) of Gloria Sanchez Productions.
Written by Liz Feldman (2 Broke Girls, The Great Indoors), the series has been described as “a dark comedy about a powerful friendship that blossoms between a tightly-wound widow and a free spirit with a shocking secret”, and a “comedic Big Little Lies.” On the show Applegate will play Jen, “a poised and put-together woman with a dark sense of humor and an anger problem that she doesn’t necessarily want to deal with. Jen has been struggling to keep it together in the months since her husband was killed in a hit and run.”
Mckay and Ferrell have been involved in creating all kinds of content lately, from HBO’s business drama Succession to CBS All Access’ No Activity. They are also set to work with Netflix on the upcoming musical comedy Eurovision, which will star Ferrell.
For Netflix, getting the highly sought after but highly selective Applegate to return to TV is a big win for the high paying streaming service. She has not starred in a series since NBC’s Up All Night, following her work on Samantha Who and Married With Children, but has consistently made big movies like the Anchorman and Bad Moms franchises. With star power like Applegate joining names like Ferrell and Mckay, Netflix is betting big on the dark comedy.
(Photo credit: Getty Images)
