Apple has hired English stage and film actor Tony Kebbell for the lead role in its psychological thriller series written by Tony Basgallop and executive produced by writer/director Manoj Nelliyattu “M. Night” Shyamalan and British TV writer Tony Basgallop.
Deadline reported yesterday Kebbell will star opposite Lauren Ambrose.
With Kebbell’s casting, Apple’s filled the last of its lead roles for this untitled project. Apple is thought to be working on more than a dozen series for its forthcoming streaming service.
The Cupertino firm gave straight-to-series order to the project back in February 2018, reportedly ordering ten half-hour episodes, but plot details have not been revealed. From what Deadline has learned, the story follows parents Dorothy (played by Lauren Ambrose) and Sean Turner (played by Tony Kebbell), who is a professional chef and father.
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Rupert Grint will play Julian Pearce, Dorothy’s younger brother. The Turners reportedly hire young nanny Leanne, played by Nell Tiger Free, to help care for their newborn child, but that’s pretty much all we currently know about the plot.
Jason Blumenthal, Todd Black and Steve Tisch of Escape Artists will also executive produce, with Taylor Latham co-executive producing. Shyamalan will direct the first episode. It’s interesting that the Apple project marks Shyamalan’s second foray into television.
Kebbell, 36, is known for his roles in such flicks as “Dead Man’s Shoes”, “RocknRolla”, “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”, “Kong: Skull Island” and others. He appeared in supporting roles in movies like “War Horse,” “The East”, “Warcraft” and more.
Photo: Toby Kebbell as Doctor Doom in Josh Trank’s “Fantastic Four” movie