David Farnor | On 13, Jul 2017

Amazon’s new series The Dangerous for Boys arrives this March. Inspired by the best-selling book, the show tells the story of a family overcoming loss with the help of a book filled with life lessons that was handed down from a father to his three boys. It’s an interesting approach to adapting the non-fiction book, conceived by Bryan Cranston and Adventureland’s Greg Mottola – and a new trailer gives us a glimpse of what that approach is like.

The series follows the McKenna family, as they cope with the untimely passing of Patrick (Chris Diamantopoulos, Good Girls Revolt), their patriarch and a whimsical inventor who positively impacted the lives of everyone who knew him. His death has left the family reeling, but hope appears in the form of a book called The Dangerous Book for Boys that Patrick created as a handbook to help his three sons. The book is a how-to guide for childhood that inspires fantasies for his youngest son, Wyatt (Gabriel Bateman, Lights Out). While in his fantasy world, Wyatt reconnects with his father and learns life skills that help him navigate the real world.

The series also stars Erinn Hayes (Childrens Hospital) as Beth, the matriarch of the family who is trying to raise her boys as a single parent. Drew Logan Powell (Rockaway) and Kyan Zielinski (The Lunchbox Brigade) play the other sons, Dash and Liam, and Swoosie Kurtz (Mike & Molly) plays the grandmother, Tiffany. Chris Diamantopoulos plays the role of Terry, Patrick’s twin brother.

Produced by Sony Pictures Television and Moonshot Entertainment, Cranston and Mottola wrote the first two episodes and exec-produce the show alongside James Degus (Sneaky Pete) and Michael Glouberman (Malcolm in the Middle), who is also serving as showrunner.

All six episodes land on Amazon Prime Video on Friday 30th March. Here’s a trailer:

 

Chris Diamantopoulos and Erinn Hayes to star in Amazon’s Dangerous Book for Boys

13th July 2017

Amazon’s Dangerous Book for Boys has found its two lead stars.

Book on Conn and Hal Iggulden’s best-selling book, which is a collection of tongue-in-cheek tips for boys, the programme is exec-produced by Bryan Cranston. The Breaking Bad star optioned the rights to the book several years ago, with the project initially intended for NBC. Now, he and Adventureland director Greg Mottola are taking the project to Amazon, with the streaming service ordering six episodes straight to full series.

The show follows a young boy, Wyatt, whose dad, Patrick, passes away. Patrick, though, leaves his sons a copy of the titular book, which inspires fantasies for Wyatt and his brothers, as they learn real life skills and try to come to terms with their loss.

Chris Diamantopoulos will play Patrick, with Erinn Hayes signing up to play his widow, Beth. The casting marks a reunion for Diamantopoulos and Amazon, after he also co-starred in the streaming service’s original drama, Good Girls Revolt. Hayes, meanwhile, is known for her role opposite Kevin James in CBS sitcom Kevin Can Wait and also guest-starred on Amazon’s Transparent.

They will be joined by young actors Gabriel Bateman and Drew Logan Powell as the sons, with Swoosie Kurtz set to guest star as Tiffany, Beth’s mother-in-law.

Mottola is directing the series, with shooting to start in New York this summer.

 

Bryan Cranston and Greg Mottola bring Dangerous Book for Boys to Amazon

9th May 2017

Bryan Cranston are bringing The Dangerous Book for Boys to Amazon for a new family series.

The book, written by Conn and Hal Iggulden, is a collection of tongue-in-cheek tips for boys, covering everything from tree-climbing to go-kart-building. A bestseller following its release in 2006, Cranston optioned the rights to the book several years ago, with the project initially intended for NBC. Now, the Breaking Bad Star and Adventureland director are taking the project to Amazon, with the streaming service ordering six episodes straight to full series.

Mottola and Cranston have already written the first two episodes of the half-hour single-camera series, which follows a young boy, Wyatt, whose dad, Patrick, passes away. Patrick, though, leaves his sons a copy of the titular book, which inspires fantasies for Wyatt and his brothers, as they learn real life skills and try to come to terms with their loss.

The project initially marked Cranston’s first major role as an exec-producer, but now marks his second, after he co-created and served as EP on Sneaky Pete, another Amazon original series. With that renewed for a second season, The Dangerous Book is a sweet reunion for Cranston and co., with both projects produced by Moonshot, Sony TV and Amazon Studios.

Mottola, also exec-producing alongside Cranston and James Degus, will direct the series, which starts shooting in New York this summer.

Add to Watchlist