Paltrow takes her first lead TV role in the A24 thriller, which Netflix bought preemptively amid a shake-up at the streamer.
Netflix has ordered two seasons of The Apology, a thriller drama from A24 and Cut To that stars Gwyneth Paltrow. Deadline reported that the two-season straight-to-series order came from Jinny Howe, the streamer's head of U.S. and Canada scripted series.
Paltrow, an Oscar winner for Shakespeare In Love, is taking her first lead role in a TV series. Her earlier television work includes a five-episode run on Glee as Holly Holiday and a supporting part in The Politician, Ryan Murphy's Netflix series. Variety notes that she has never led a small-screen title before.
The premise follows Evelyn and Caleb Amspoker. "Evelyn and Caleb Amspoker's son was murdered 18 years ago in a cold case that gripped the nation," the series' logline reads. A stranger then appears and confesses, which makes justice seem possible, until the couple learn the killer may get off with a reduced sentence. They decide to take matters into their own hands.
Joe Murtagh, who created The Woman in the Wall in 2023, is the creator, showrunner and writer. Thomas Vinterberg, the Oscar winner behind Another Round, directs the series. It is his second US television directing effort, after the first and last episodes of Netflix's upcoming Kennedys. Joe Hipps of Cut To, Murtagh, Vinterberg and Paltrow are the executive producers. A24, the studio behind the show, also backed Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim's documentary [You Can See Everything](https://medianaija.com/posts/you-can-see-everything-opens-to-an-estimated-15-million-no-2-behind-street), which opened with $15 million at the weekend box office.
Netflix bought the competitive project preemptively, Deadline reported. THR says the pickup predates the hiring of Peter Rice. Sources told Deadline that Rice was not said to be involved in the decision, which Howe made by communicating with Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos.
The order comes during a shake-up at the streamer. Netflix recently laid off roughly 1,000 people, about 6% of its staff. Chief content officer Bela Bajaria was replaced by Peter Rice, and film head Dan Lin also left. Variety reports that Howe has weathered the storm, and Deadline reports she is believed to be safe in her job for the foreseeable future.
Netflix declined to comment on the deal.
No comments yet