John Lithgow To Star Opposite Jeff Bridges In FX’s ‘The Old Man’ With ‘Spider-Man’s Jon Watts Directing
John Lithgowis the latest elderly gentleman to joinThe Old Mancast. Lithgow will be starring oppositeJeff Bridgesin the FX thriller seriesThe Old Man, withSpider-Man: Far From HomedirectorJon Wattsset to helm the pilot episode.
In the wake of the Disney-Sony feud, Jon Watts’ future with theSpider-Manmay be getting a little sticky, but at least he’s got some old men to lean on. TheSpider-Man: HomecomingandFar From Homedirector has lined up his next project, according to FX (viaThe Playlist). The network announced that Watts has signed on to helm the pilot episode of the upcoming thriller seriesThe Old Man, starring Jeff Bridges as a retired CIA operative forced to come out his secluded life after an assassination attempt. Based on the novel byThomas Perry, the series is a vehicle for Bridges to essentially be the badass ex-CIA agent we all want him to play.
There’s no word yet on what role Lithgow will play, but he’s impressed lately in serious dramatic roles, earning an Emmy award for Netflix’sThe Crownin 2017. And if you’re curious how he’ll do in a thriller, check him out as the notorious Trinity Killer in the fourth season ofDexter.
Here’s the full synopsis for the book:
To all appearances, Dan Chase is a harmless retiree in Vermont with two big mutts and a grown daughter he keeps in touch with by phone. But most sixty-year-old widowers don’t have multiple driver’s licenses, savings stockpiled in banks across the country, and a bugout kit with two Beretta Nanos stashed in the spare bedroom closet. Most have not spent decades on the run. Thirty-five years ago, as a young hotshot in army intelligence, Chase was sent to Libya to covertly assist a rebel army. When the plan turned sour, Chase reacted according to his own ideas of right and wrong, triggering consequences he could never have anticipated. And someone still wants him dead because of them. Just as he had begun to think himself finally safe, Chase must reawaken his survival instincts to contend with the history he has spent his adult life trying to escape.
Jon Steinberg and Robert Levine will write and executive produce the show. FX has only ordered the pilot so far, but with Watts directing a cast like this, it’s likely only a matter of time before we hear of a full series pick-up.
