Once upon a time, there was TV, and there were movies, and these were two very different worlds. The past twenty years have seen a gradual but important change, however, with the quality of television production increasing, and talent crossing those perceived boundaries both in front of, and behind the camera. The result of this ongoing change can now be enjoyed in the form of shows like True Detective, American Horror Story, House Of Cards, and soon, the as-yet-untitled Wall Street drama from John Cusack.
Currently in pre-production for CBS, the show centres around a smart hedge fund trader mired in the world of power, influence, manipulation and high finance that is America’s Wall Street. The cast is led by Charlie Cox (Stardust, Boardwalk Empire) as Jackson, the trader, with David Morse (The Hurt Locker) and Maggie Grace (Lost, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn) in supporting roles. In addition to his duties as executive producer, John Cusack will also appear in the pilot as a cynical former Wall Street trader – perhaps a wiser counterpart to the young and ambitious Cox.
This upcoming drama seems to be a meeting-of-the-minds between Cusack and a number of people behind the TV show Justified. While Cusack and fellow executive producer Kevin McCabe helped to develop the story, the script for the pilot was written by Justified writers Benjamin Cavell and Taylor Elmore. Justified producers Carl Beverly and Sarah Timberman are also on board in executive producer seats. Niels Arden Oplev (director of 2009’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) will apparently helm the pilot.
What we have here is a hot-button topic – Wall Street – being addressed by Justified writers and John Cusack, which makes for some potentially incredible television. Sure, there are some questionable entries on Cusack’s resume, but he is also responsible for dropping brilliantly insightful works such as Grosse Pointe Blank, High Fidelity, Max, Grace Is Gone and War Inc into the laps of cinema audiences. The prospect of that moral conviction and biting satire laying waste to the harbingers of a global financial catastrophe is almost too exciting to bear.
John Cusack is coming to CBS. Get ready.