Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hugo Weaving Join Benedict Cumberbatch on ‘Patrick Melrose’
Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hugo Weaving and Anna Madeley have joined Showtime’s “Patrick Melrose.”
The five-part series stars Benedict Cumberbatch in its titular role. Each episode will be written by David Nicholls and directed by Edward Berger.
“Patrick Melrose” is based on the semi-autobiographical novels of the same name, penned by Edward St. Aubyn. The books — and their adaptation — skewer the upper class through the protagonist’s odyssey from a traumatic childhood through adult substance abuse and, ultimately, toward recovery, per Showtime.
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Leigh and Weaving will star as the parents of Patrick Melrose (Cumberbatch). Madeley will play Melrose’s wife.
With each episode devoted to one of the five novels, the series will encompass the saga of Patrick Melrose’s life, from his horribly abusive youth at the hands of his father (Weaving) and the mother who tacitly condones the behavior (Leigh), to the outrageous playboy he becomes and the struggles he endures to defy the damage of his own past, the premium cable channel’s description continued.
“Patrick Melrose” will be executive produced by Cumberbatch, Michael Jackson, Rachael Horovitz and Adam Ackland.
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