Still officially untitled, Martin Scorsese's rock 'n' roll TV pilot for HBO is filling out its cast. Bobby Cannavale, Olivia Wilde, Juno Temple and Ray Romano have already been announced as part of the project, and the latest name to arrive is P.J. Byrne. The show marks Byrne's second collaboration with Scorsese following The Wolf Of Wolf Street, in which he played Nicky "Rugrat" Koskoff. Clearly he made as strong an impression on his director as he did on the audience.
In the rock show, Cannavale plays Richie Finestra, the founder and president of a fictional major record label called American Century that has made careers and sold millions in 1970s New York. Richie, however, suddenly suffers a crisis of conscience when he’s faced with a life-changing decision, which has an impact on his family life, including his wife Devon (Wilde), a former model and actress. She largely gave up her partying ways when she married Richie, but heads back to them when her husband’s issues hit. Byrne will play Scott Levitt, Finestra's business partner.
Aside from Scorsese, the pilot's pedigree includes Boardwalk Empire's creator/producer (and Wolf Of Wall Street writer) Terence Winter. Mick Jagger, a man who knows a little something about rock ‘n’ roll, is aboard as a producer, so the details should be authentic.
Scorsese is directing the first episode himself, with shooting due to start shortly. HBO have still to make the decision on whether to take it to series, but the odds in its favour are looking strong.