According to Deadline, Oscar winner Rami Malek has signed on for the leading role in Warner Bros. Television’s upcoming limited drama centering around the life of silent comedy movie star Buster Keaton. Should the project score an official series order, this would mark Malek’s first major TV drama in more than three years since Mr. Robot ended its four-season run.
The untitled Buster Keaton miniseries will be directed by The Batman filmmaker Matt Reeves, who is also producing through his 6th & Idaho Productions banner. Emmy-winning scribe Ted Cohen, who’s best known for his work on popular shows like Friends, Succession, and Veep, is currently in talks to adapt the project, which may potentially be based on James Curtis’ book Buster Keaton: A Filmmaker’s Life.
Keaton is known as one of the most-recognized movie stars of the silent film era. His life in entertainment started at an early age, as he was part of a vaudeville family. He was known for his signature deadpan expression while doing physical comedy.
Apart from acting, he’s also often considered as one of the greatest directors of all time due to his work on iconic movies such as The General, Sherlock Jr., The Navigator, and more. Keaton has been an inspiration for other acclaimed filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese and Mel Brooks.
The upcoming project will be produced by Malek and David Weddle, with 6th & Idaho’s Daniel Pipski and Rafi Crohn serving as executive producers. Warner Bros. Television has also entered negotiations for the rights to Curtis’ book.
