EXCLUSIVE: Roku is bringing some laughter to the 1950s drama series Tightrope!
The streamer has greenlit a comedy reimagining of the series starring Ty Burrell and executive produced by Bryan Cranston.
According to Roku, the new series “reshapes the drama of the vintage 1950s series into a slapstick comedy, where Burrell plays a lone wolf detective following cases city to city, while he searches for his long-lost love who got away.”
“Since Tightrope! is a comedy about a detective (and finding a Wallenda seemed off brand) we’re thrilled to have Ty Burrell and Bryan Cranston join us at Roku for this imaginative, funny series,” Charlie Collier, President, Roku Media said in a statement. “What a joy to welcome Ty and Bryan to the Roku Originals lineup, along with the Moonshot and Desert Whale teams and our partners at Village Roadshow Television. We’re pleased to add Tightrope! to our growing originals slate to delight our audiences.”
Cranston serves as an executive producer via his Moonshot Entertainment alongside James Degus. He founded the company in 2013 and has produced a wide range of content including Your Honor (Showtime), Sneaky Pete (Amazon), Dangerous Book for Boys (Amazon), Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams (Amazon), SuperMansion (Crackle) and All The Way (HBO).
“I was inspired by the on-the-nose old drama series of the 50’s, to mess with the whole thing and create a new version of a lunatic comedy, never seen before in a TV series. Tightrope is a result of a fever dream, and conceived over a bowl of chili at Chasens, savvy?” Cranston said in a statement.
Added Burrell: “I’m so thrilled to be working with Bryan, and Roku Originals, on this bonkers (in the best way) idea of a show.”
Burrell will also executive produce for Desert Whale Productions. Tightrope! is also produced by Village Roadshow Televison. Adam Small and Fax Bahr will also executive produce and direct the series. The series will be overseen by Morgan Pichinson on behalf of Roku Originals.
