EXCLUSIVE: Showtime and Paramount Television Studios have suspended production for four days on upcoming series American Gigolo, a reboot of the popular 1980s film. The move comes a few days after the Paramount network and TV studio severed ties with the series’ developer, author, director and executive producer David Hollander following an investigation into allegations of misconduct.
Production on the series, titled Jon Bernthal, was originally to continue after Holland’s dismissal, with one of Holland’s top lieutenants believed to be co-executive producer David Bar Katz stepping in as showrunner. That American Gigolo series, produced by Paramount TV Studios with Jerry Bruckheimer Television, has about two episodes left to record from its 10-episode sequence, I hear.
In addition to the change of leadership, I hear that the production shutdown is attributed to the fact that an actor is temporarily unavailable. The reasons are unclear, but I have not heard that it is Covid related. I will update the story if / when more information is available.
The decision to take a break from filming comes amid a strong reaction to Hollander’s exit, with a number of former employees sharing their past experiences working with him, largely anonymously. Hollander has also since left CBS / CBS Studios’ comedy series How we roll, where he served as EP in season 1.
“David Hollander is no longer in the drama series American Gigolo and Paramount Television Studios no longer has a producing relationship with him, ”a spokesman for Deadline said in a statement Saturday, rejecting further comments.
Hollander wrote and instructed the pilot for the new one American Gigoloa contemporary remake of the iconic 1980s film. Bernthal plays Julian Kaye, who is introduced 15 years after he was arrested for murder and struggles to find a foothold in the modern Los Angeles sex industry while searching for the truth about the set-up that sent him to jail all those years ago and also hoping to reconnect with Michelle, his one true love, played by Gretchen Mol.
Also on the cast are Rosie O’Donnell, Lizzie Brocheré, Gabriel LaBelle, Leland Orser and Wayne Brady. Bruckheimer executive co-produces with Jonathan Littman and KristieAnne Reed.