What happens when you combine a legendary filmmaker with a legendary rock star? Vinyl, on HBO.
The new drama hails from Terence Winter – creator of Boardwalk Empire – and boasts regular Winter collaborator Martin Scorsese, and Rolling Stones front-man Mick Jagger among its executive producers. The high profile project features a period setting, as it takes a close look at life in a New York City that is in the throes of a musical revolution.
Here’s the official plot summary:
“From Martin Scorsese, Mick Jagger and Terence Winter, this new drama series is set in 1970s New York. A ride through the sex-and-drug-addled music business at the dawn of punk, disco and hip-hop, the show is seen through the eyes of a record label president, Richie Finestra, played by Bobby Cannavale, who is trying to save his company and his soul without destroying everyone in his path. Additional series regulars include Olivia Wilde, Ray Romano, Ato Essandoh, Max Casella, P.J. Byrne, J.C MacKenzie, Birgitte Hjort Sorenson, Juno Temple, Jack Quaid, James Jagger, and Paul Ben-Victor. Executive produced by Martin Scorsese, Mick Jagger, Terence Winter, Rick Yorn, Victoria Pearman, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, John Melfi and Allen Coulter. Winter serves as showrunner.”
The trailer itself indicates a show with flawless production design, as would be expected of Scorsese and his colleagues, and a predictably great soundtrack. The involvement of the filmmaker and Mick Jagger has clearly led to an authenticity that will be essential to the show’s success, and this is bolstered by what looks to be a set of powerful performances by the cast.
Most notable, of course, is Bobby Cannavale – historically a compelling supporting actor, who here steps forward into the lead role. It is quite possible that we are witnessing his elevation to the ranks of iconic male TV performer – such as that occupied by James Gandolfini (The Sopranos), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Hugh Laurie (House), Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights), and Timothy Olyphant (Justified) – playing a role with which he could well be forever synonymous. This is because his presence dominates this preview footage, with a character that casts a long shadow over all other content.
Whether this translates into a successful hour-long episodic drama will be revealed when Vinyl airs on HBO in January 2016.