Benicio Del Toro joins Ben Stiller in Apple TV comedy
Variety reports Del Toro will star opposite Stiller in Protective Custody, a prison-set comedy from Mike Judge, Steve Hely and Dave King.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
Benicio Del Toro is moving into comedy lead territory at Apple TV, joining Ben Stiller in the upcoming series Protective Custody, according to Variety.
The role is a notable turn for Del Toro: Variety reports it will be the first lead comedy series part of his career. Details about whom he will play are still being kept quiet.
Stiller was already attached to star in and executive produce the project, which was first announced in May, Variety reported. The series brings the two actors back together after their work on Showtime’s limited series Escape at Dannemora.
On that show, Stiller directed and Del Toro starred. Both earned Emmy nominations for their work, according to Variety.
A fraud case, prison politics and a reputation to save
Protective Custody centers on a disgraced financier played by Stiller, according to the show’s logline cited by Variety. The character is accused of major fraud and placed in protective custody while awaiting trial.
From there, the series follows him as he deals with prison politics, tries to repair his public standing and faces the fallout from his conduct, according to the logline.
Mike Judge is co-writing the series with Steve Hely and Dave King. Variety reports that all three will also serve as executive producers and co-showrunners, with Judge attached to direct.
Stiller will executive produce through Red Hour as well as star. John Lesher of Red Hour is also an executive producer, along with Ben Silverman, Howard Owens and Rodney Ferrell of Propagate Content.
Michael Rotenberg and Oly Obst are executive producing for 3 Arts Entertainment, and Nanette Burstein is also an executive producer, according to Variety.
Del Toro adds TV comedy to a heavyweight résumé
Del Toro comes to the Apple TV project with a long list of film credits and awards recognition. He has been nominated for three Oscars, winning best supporting actor for Traffic in 2001, Variety noted.
That performance also brought him a Golden Globe. His other Oscar nominations came for 21 Grams and One Battle After Another, with the latter also earning him a Golden Globe nomination, according to Variety.
His film work includes Sicario, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch and The Phoenician Scheme, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
Variety reports that Del Toro is represented by LBI Entertainment, Range Media Partners and Hansen Jacobson.
Apple TV has not announced Del Toro’s character details through Variety’s report, and no release date was included.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.