Benicio Del Toro is set for a lead role opposite Ben Stiller in the upcoming Apple TV comedy series “Protective Custody,” Variety has learned.
The show was originally announced in May with Stiller attached to star and executive produce. It marks the first lead series comedy role of Del Toro’s career as well as a reunion for him and Stiller. The two previously collaborated on the Showtime limited series “Escape at Dannemora,” which Stiller directed and in which Del Toro starred. Both received Emmy nominations for their work on the show.
The logline for “Protective Custody” states that the show “will follow a disgraced financier (Stiller) accused of massive fraud who is thrown into protective custody, where he must navigate prison politics, salvage his reputation, and confront the consequences of his actions while awaiting trial.”
Exact details on Del Toro’s character are being kept under wraps.
Del Toro is one of the most celebrated actors of his generation. He is a three-time Oscar nominee, winning the award for best supporting actor for “Traffic” in 2001, for which he also won a Golden Globe. He has also been nominated for his roles in “21 Grams” and “One Battle After Another,” the latter of which also netted him a Golden Globe nom. His other notable film roles include “Sicario” and “Sicario: Day of the Soldado,” Wes Anderson’s “The French Dispatch” and “The Phoenician Scheme,” and “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.”
He is repped by LBI Entertainment, Range Media Partners, and Hansen Jacobson.
Mike Judge is co-writing “Protective Custody” along with Steve Hely and Dave King. All three are executive producers and co-showrunners, with Judge also attached to direct. Stiller will executive produce in addition to starring via Red Hour. John Lesher of Red Hour also executive produces, as does Ben Silverman, Howard Owens, and Rodney Ferrell of Propagate Content. Michael Rotenberg and Oly Obst executive produce for 3 Arts Entertainment. Nanette Burstein will executive produce as well.