Writer-producer Bridget Carpenter (“Dead Like Me,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Parenthood”) scripted the 9-hour “11-22-63” Hulu miniseries, based on Stephen King’s popular 2011 novel about a fellow who discovers a portal to September 9, 1958, then works to prevent the assassination of President Kennedy. (No one ever goes back in time to save James Garfield or William McKinley.) I directed two of the nine hours.
James Franco (“127 Hours,” “The Interview”) plays Jake Epping, the time-travelling teach. The cast also includes Brooklyn Sudano as Christy Epping, Chris Cooper as Al Templeton, Josh Duhamel as Frank Dunning, Leon Rippy as Harry Dunning, Nick Searcy as Deke Simmons, Sarah Gadon as Sadie Dunhill, Mike Camp as Lyndon Johnson, Lucy Fry as Marina Oswald, Michael Izquierdo as Bobby Oswald, Amy Marie Wallace as Vada Oswald, Cherry Jones as Marquerite Oswald, and Daniel Webber as Lee Harvey Oswald.
It has not yet been determined whether or not the series will eventually continue beyond its first nine episodes.
A very loose adaptation of King's “Under The Dome” was summer’s top scripted show a few years ago, but its viewership declined sharply after its first season.
J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot production concern, which is behind “11/22/63,” also produced (or is producing) “Alias,” “Lost,” “What About Brian?” “Six Degrees,” “Fringe,” “Undercovers,” “Person of Interest,” “Alcatraz,” “Revolution,” “Almost Human,” “Believe,” “Cloverfield,” “Morning Glory,” “Super 8,” six “Mission: Impossible” movies, three “Star Trek” movies, and a “Star Wars” sequel.
