American Gigolo: Release Date, Cast, And More
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Jon Bernthal. Need we say more?
Even if we didn't, we still want to. The "Punisher" actor has been experiencing a big career advancement over the past couple of years, appearing in such big-name movies as "King Richard" and "Ford v Ferrari" as well as television series like "We Own This City." Now, he's about to fill in Richard Gere's shoes in the television follow-up to Paul Schrader's 1980 film "American Gigolo." The series has had its fair share of production problems since it was announced, but the recently-released trailer has us hyped for the long-gestating project. Seriously, the trailer features a remix of Blondie's "Call Me," the theme for the original movie. That's all I needed to hear and now I'm sold.
Don't believe us? Check it out below, and read up on everything you need to know about the series before it premieres.
American Gigolo release date and where you can watch it
If you are waiting anxiously to see Bernthal as you've never seen him before, you won't have to wait much longer. The first episode of "American Gigolo" will premiere on Showtime's streaming platform on September 9, 2022. The show is expected to run for eight episodes, meaning the finale will likely air at the end of October.
This is all very clear, but what isn't clear is whether the show will also air on the original Showtime channel. It could air that very same Friday, but considering the primetime hour on that day is typically seen as a death slot, it seems unlikely. For shows such as "Yellowjackets," Showtime has previously put upcoming episodes on their streaming service a few days before they aired on television. It is not yet confirmed whether the same release strategy will be made with "American Gigolo." If they follow the "Yellowjackets" release formula, then it could be released on the streamer on Fridays and have an on-air slot for the following Sunday or Monday. However, this is currently still speculation.
What is this version of American Gigolo about?
While the television show shares the same name and title character as the film, their plots do differ in some key ways. There is a murder and a framing conspiracy at play in both iterations, particularly how Julian is framed for a crime he didn't commit. However, how the show is aiming to handle these events sounds somewhat different from Schrader's film.
In the series, Julian will be shown as newly freed from prison, having spent 15 years behind bars for murder. As expected, it turns out that the police got the wrong guy, and considering the obvious distrust established, Julian has found himself searching for the real culprit. When he's not doing that, he's attempting to get back into the evolving world of sex work that he finds himself ill-equipped to adjust to.
The role of Michelle Stratton, portrayed by Lauren Hutton in the original, will remain a key part of the series. Now played by Gretchen Mol, it's not clear whether she helped Julian get released after all these years, much like how she gave the police his alibi before his trial in the film. However, we do know that the relationship between her and Julian will be a key part of the series.
American Gigolo cast and crew
While Bernthal and his abs are obviously the main attraction of the series, he and Mol obviously won't be the only ones onscreen. They will be joined by Rosie O'Donnell, Leland Orser, Wayne Brady, Lizzie Brocheré, and Laura Liguori. Some of these actors will be playing characters from the original film; for example, O'Donnell will take over the gender-swapped role of Detective Sunday from Hector Elizondo, while Orser will play Michelle's husband Richard much like the role of Senator Charles Stratton played by Brian Davies.
The crew involved in the series is a lot more difficult to list. Schrader is not involved in the project and has publicly denounced it, although the film's producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, is also producing the adaptation. Initially developed by "Ray Donovan" producer David Hollander, he was ousted as showrunner in April 2022 due to accusations of misconduct. His successor, David Bar Katz, quit the project the following month due to alleged inexperience and creative differences. Nikki Toscano, who served as the showrunner for "The Offer," has replaced both men moving forward. Okay, so that may sound a bit scary, but maybe this rotating door eventually worked out for the best.
Ready to share the wine? "American Gigolo" will premiere on the Showtime app on September 9, 2022.