Cameron Crowe is a former Rolling Stone contributor whose best work as a filmmaker (Almost Famous, Singles) has centered around music and musicians, so there are a lot of reasons to be excited about the idea of seeing Crowe steer an hour-long cable comedy based in the behind-the-scenes world of a mega rock tour. According to Variety, there are now two other reasons to be excited about Showtime’s Roadies pilot, which is being co-produced by JJ Abrams.
Luke Wilson and Imogen Poots are set to star in Showtime’s hourlong comedy pilot “Roadies,” from Cameron Crowe and J.J. Abrams.
The Warner Bros. TV project revolves around a rock band on a large-scale tour as seen from the perspective of the road crew. Wilson (pictured) plays a newly sober tour manager. Poots plays an electrical technician with questionable people skills.
Whale Rider star Keisha Castle-Hughes, CSI: LA‘s Peter Cambor, and Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy player/Prometheus co-star Rafe Spall have also climbed aboard the pilot, according to the report.
For Wilson, this marks a return to television following two seasons spent on HBO’s Enlightened. Of course, Wilson is best known for his work in Bottle Rocket, Idiocracy, Old School, and a few other notable roles. Despite the length of his resume, though, Wilson never quite had the breakout career as an affable comedy lead that I think a lot of people thought he would, especially over the last few years, but he brings a lot to the table and he could be really good as a tour manager that is trying to keep his demons at bay.
As for Poots, she was one of the stars of the thoroughly unpopular Fright Night reboot (which she was quite good in), and more recently, she co-starred in Need for Speed and That Awkward Moment, so homegirl has paid her dues and deserves a chance to do some good work on something with a little bit of staying power.
At this point, it’s impossible to know if Roadies will be that project, but the recent trend of music-infused cable series’ getting the greenlight like FX’s Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll and Martin Scorsese’s HBO untitled rock drama can’t hurt its chances.
Source: Variety
