‘American Gigolo’ TV Sequel Features Intense ‘Walking Dead’ Star
Jerry Bruckheimer has created some of television’s most iconic shows. He created the entire CSI franchise, Cold Case, and even ran the American version of The Amazing Race. Before this, he produced some of the best movies of the 80s and 90s. These include Top Gun, Flashdance, American Gigolo, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Now, Bruckheimer is combining the two as he brings the first movie he ever produced to TV as a new show. That movie is the 1980 drama American Gigolo starring Richard Gere. The new TV version will star former Walking Dead star Jon Bernthal.
Jerry Bruckheimer calls American Gigolo ‘intense’
The movie American Gigolo starred Richard Gere as a high-priced escort in Los Angeles who falls in love with a politician’s wife (played by Lauren Hutton). At the same time, he becomes the suspect in a murder investigation. This was the movie that made Gere a star. Furthermore, it was one of the first mainstream movies to show frontal male nudity.
The new version will be a Showtime series, so there is still a chance of nudity. However, whether it does it not, producer Jerry Bruckheimer called the TV series “intense.” In the series, Jon Bernthal (Shane from The Walking Dead) stars as Julian Kaye, released from prison 15 years following the wrongful conviction. He then has to reenter a complicated relationship with his former lover Michelle (Gretchen Mol). Julian also has his troubled mother and the people who betrayed him.
Rosie O’Donnell also stars in the series as Detective Sunday. She’s a woman who wants to find out the truth about the murder that sent Julian to prison. However, Julian wants to forget about the past and is reluctant to allow the police officer who put him away to lead him back into the situation that put him away for so long. Unlike the movie, where Julian played an escort from the start, in this TV series, Julian used to be an escort. Now, he wants to lead a life with a new girlfriend (Yolonda Ross).
“Jon can be charming, dangerous, emotionally intense, and tender,” Bruckheimer told TV Insider. “That air of unpredictability is what we wanted for Julian.”
When will American Gigolo premiere on Showtime?
Since this plays out as a sequel to the American Gigolo movie, it appears that Julian didn’t get off on the charges like at the end of the movie. Much like Bernthal took over the role of Julian from Gere, Gretchen Mol (Boardwalk Empire) takes over Hutton’s role as Michelle. Wayne Brady also stars as Julian’s old friend Lorenzo.
The new American Gigolo TV series hits Showtime on Sunday night, September 11, at 9/8c. Jerry Bruckheimer is producing the series while David Hollander (Ray Donovan) is the showrunner.
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