Having well and truly established himself on the big screen with the likes of Hunger, Shame and the upcoming 12 Years A Slave (which is already drawing Oscar buzz), Steve McQueen is now looking to get into TV. More specifically, he’s crafting a “provocative drama” for HBO.
McQueen has partnered with World War Z’s Matthew Michael Carnahan and hip-hop producer Russell Simmons for the project, which is currently without a title. Carnahan will write the script, which apparently follows a young African-American man as he enters New York’s high society and hides the truth about his past. According to Deadline, it’s being described as Six Degrees Of Separation meets Shame, so take from that what you will.
HBO wants this one moving quickly, preferably getting at least a pilot shot before McQueen moves on to his next film, so casting is in the early stages. Will he be recruiting regular collaborator and good luck charm Michael Fassbender for a cameo?
12 Years A Slave, which features Fassbender, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Brad Pitt, Lupita Nyong’o, Scott McNairy, Benedict Cumberbatch and Sarah Paulson, is out on January 10.