The last time Rami Malek played a real person on screen (in Bohemian Rhapsody), the results divided opinion but also won him an Oscar. So you can imagine why he might be tempted to do it again, and is now attached to the lead role in a new, untitled miniseries about Hollywood legend Buster Keaton.
Having The Batman's Matt Reeves as one of the main producers (and likely directors) is also an appeal, with the series being developed at the filmmaker's 6th & Idaho Productions.
Known for his deadpan expression, actor-director Keaton starred in such movies as The Playhouse, Cops, The Electric House, Sherlock Jr and The General.
Born into a vaudeville family, Keaton’s career waned after his inked with MGM and lost his artistic independence. His wife divorced him, and he became an alcoholic. His career rebounded in the 1940s; he remarried, and earned an Academy Honorary Award in 1959.
James Curtis' biography, Buster Keaton: A Filmmaker’s Life is being considered the main source material, with a deal underway to buy the rights, while Succession's Ted Cohen will be writing the eventual script.
Warner Bros. Television is backing this one, so while it will be offered up to various streaming services and networks the production company (and Reeves' overall deal at Warners) make us think that HBO/HBO Max is surely in potential first position. That said, given Warner Bros. Discovery's sweeping budget and show cuts, who knows. Reeves is also at work on both a Batman sequel script and developing the Penguin spin-off series, in place at HBO Max.
Malek will next be back on screens for Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer (his role is a mystery for now – beyond "a scientist" — so we don't yet know if he's playing a real person in that one), due out on 21 July.
