Ben Stiller Takes the Lead in New HBO Dramedy, “The Band”
EXCLUSIVE: HBO is currently working on a new series titled The Band, an hour-long dramedy which will feature Ben Stiller, marking one of his infrequent appearances on television. This new venture is a collaboration between Media Res and Stiller’s own production company, Red Hour Films, known for producing prominent Apple TV+ shows like The Morning Show and Severance.
The series is the brainchild of Sarah Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers, who are also behind the celebrated TBS/Max series Search Party. The Band takes viewers behind the scenes of the music industry through the eyes of its central character, Oscar, portrayed by Stiller. Oscar is a renowned pop mastermind and talent mogul whose reputation is marred by scandal. In a bid to salvage his sinking career—and possibly redeem himself—he must pull together a new musical act.
Oscar’s character, reminiscent of Simon Cowell, will be assembling a boy band, as the series’ title subtly suggests. Cowell is famously known for putting together One Direction, one of the most successful boy bands in history.
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Bliss and Rogers are not only creators but also showrunners of the series. They are executive producing alongside John Lesher and Savan Kotecha from Red Hour, as well as Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer from Media Res. HBO and Media Res will jointly serve as the studios for the production.
This new series offers a stark contrast to HBO’s previous music industry portrayal in the darker drama The Idol from last year.
If The Band proceeds, it would be Stiller’s second starring role in a television series, the first being his 1990s sketch comedy, The Ben Stiller Show. He has also held recurring roles in Arrested Development and HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Red Hour Films is currently producing the Peabody- and Emmy-award-winning series Severance on Apple TV+, now in its second season, with Stiller as both a director and executive producer. Stiller and Red Hour are represented by WME and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.
Media Res is also behind the Emmy and SAG Award-winning drama The Morning Show, soon entering its fourth season, and Pachinko on Apple TV+. Their future projects include The Miniature Wife at Peacock with Matthew Macfadyen, the corporate thriller Thumblte at Netflix featuring Rosamund Pike, and several other advanced development projects like the bisexual romance drama Enigma Variations at Netflix starring Jeremy Allen White.
Previously at HBO, where Media Res founder Ellenberg was a top drama executive, the company produced Scenes From a Marriage, starring Jessica Chastain and Oscar Isaac.
Bliss and Rogers, along with Michael Showalter, co-created and executive produced Search Party, starring Alia Shawkat, which lasted for five seasons. Their series credits also include Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later. The duo is represented by UTA, Rise Management, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.
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