‘Fosse/Verdon’ Lands Sam Rockwell And Michelle Williams, With Lin-Manuel Miranda Producing
FX has their next original limited series lined-up, and it’s attracted quite a roster.Fosse/Verdonwill starSam Rockwellas choreographer and filmmaker Bob Fosse, andMichelle Williamswill play Fosse’s creative and romantic partner, dancer Gwen Verdon. The series comes from producerLin-Manuel Miranda(you might have heard of him).
At last: someone is going to let Sam Rockwell dance on screen again.THRreports Rockwell is set to play legendary choreographer and director Bob Fosse in the limited FX seriesFosse/Verdon. Fosse was an influential choreographer, and went on to helm some fantastic films, includingCabaret,Lenny,Star 80the autobiographicalAll That Jazz. Michelle Williams, meanwhile, will play actress and dancer Gwen Verdon, who appeared inDamn Yankees, New Girl in Town, Redheadand more. Fosse and Verdon met in 1955, and the two would eventually develop a creative and romantic relationship. They married in 1960, but the marriage didn’t last.
The limited series will be based on Sam Wasson’s biographyFosse, and will tell the story of “of the romantic and creative partnership between Bob Fosse (Rockwell) and Gwen Verdon (Williams). He was a filmmaker and one of theater’s most influential choreographers and directors. She was the greatest Broadway dancer of all time. Together, they changed the face of American entertainment — at a perilous cost. The series will feature Fosse’s choreography and explore the hidden corners of showbiz, the price of pursuing greatness and the suffering inflicted in the name of art.”
Rockwell and Williams are fantastic at what they do, and the prospect of them working together is enough to catch my interest. But wait, there’s more! Behind the scenes,Hamiltoncreator Lin-Manuel Miranda will serve as executive producer, along withDear Even Hansonbook writerSteven Levenson,HamiltondirectorThomas Kail,Rockwell, Williams andGeorge Stelzner. Levenson will serve as showrunner, and Kail will direct the pilot episode. Actress, dancer and producerNicole Fosse, daughter of Fosse and Verdon, will also serve as executive producer. That’s a lot of names to keep track of, folks, but these are all very talented people and worth mentioning.
“We are over the moon about this dream team we’ve assembled for this incredible series,” said Nick Grad, FX original programming president. “Tommy, Steven and Lin are the perfect team to tell the story of Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon, and we’re so thrilled to have Sam and Michelle playing these iconic roles.”
Kail, Levenson and Miranda released the following joint statement:
“Bob Fosse ignited a revolution in American dance, theater and film. But, in contrast to the well-worn myth of the visionary artist working in solitude, Fosse’s work would not have been possible without Gwen Verdon, the woman who helped to mold his style — and make him a star. We are honored to work with the incredible team at FX and Fox 21, and these two extraordinary actors, to tell the story of this remarkable couple, and the complicated, fascinating relationship between them.”
This will be the first regular live-action TV series role for Rockwell, and will mark Williams' first TV role sinceDawson’s Creek. There was a time not too long ago when such acclaimed actors jumping from film to TV signaled a kiss of death. Those times are long gone. FX in particular has done a great job attracting big name talent for their shows – seeAmerican Crime Story,American Horror StoryandFargofor just some examples – with great results.
Now watch this video of Fosse and Verdon inDamn Yankees, won’t you?
