Laura Linney Boards ‘American Classic’ Comedy Series at MGM+

Multiple Emmy winner Laura Linney has found her next TV project.

Linney has joined the cast of American Classic, a comedy series at MGM+. She’ll star opposite Kevin Kline and Jon Tenney in the show, in which a disgraced Broadway star (Kline) returns to a family-run theater in his hometown. The show comes from creators Michael Hoffman (Soapdish, The Last Station) and Bob Martin (Slings and Arrows).

Kline plays Broadway star and notorious narcissist Richard Bean, who suffers a spectacular public meltdown and returns to his hometown and the family-run theater where he first became aware of his own brilliance. When he arrives, he is shocked to discover that his father, the former artistic director, has lost a step and that the once-respected theater, now run by his brother Jon (Tenney) and his wife (Linney) has become, by necessity, a low-rent dinner theater serving roast beef and murder mysteries. Richard decides to save the theater, the town and the world by mounting an American classic at the theater.

Linney’s character, Kristen Forrest Bean, who fell in love with Richard when she was 19 and ran off with him to make it in New York. While Richard’s egotism helped his career take off, she became frustrated with him and returned home, eventually marrying Richard’s younger brother, Jon (Tenney).

Linney has won four Emmys, most recently for her starring role in Showtime’s The Big C in 2013. She was nominated three times for her role on Netflix’s Ozark. Her recent credits include Hulu’s feature Suncoast and Ethan Hawke’s Flannery O’Connor biopic Wildcat. Linney is repped by CAA, Lighthouse Management & Media and attorney Kevin Yorn.

Fifth Season is behind American Classic, with Mar-Key Pictures, Likely Story and Anonymous Content producing. Hoffman, who will also direct the first episode, and Martin executive produce with Ellen Fairey, Kline, Leslie Urdang, Anthony Bregman, Miriam Mintz and David Levine and Garrett Kemble of Anonymous Content. Tenney is a co-EP.