While his film career is definitely on a roll – he just picked up a well-deserved first Oscar for Whiplash – J.K. Simmons is quite happy switching between movies and TV. He’s now attached to star in supernatural spy thriller Counterpart for US cable channel Starz.
With an initial concept script from Jungle Book writer Justin Marks, Counterpart has Imitation Game director Morten Tyldum on board to direct the first two episodes, with Starz still debating whether it will order one season to begin with, or plump for two as it did with Patrick Stewart’s new sitcom Blunt Talk.
Blending espionage genre elements with a metaphysical twist, Counterpart is described as the story of Howard Silk (Simmons) working away quietly in a mammoth UN bureaucracy, counting the regrets of his life. But then he discovers that the seemingly benign agency he works for is hiding a dark secret – a portal to a parallel dimension and, via his counterpart on the other side, he’ll explore identity and the chances missed in life. There’s no indication yet when it will hit screens.
Simmons will next show up in Terminator: Genisys (due July 3) and The Accountant. He’s also on board to co-star in Kong: Skull Island. Tyldum is developing sci-fi drama Passengers, which has Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt in talks to star.