Damon Lindelof will be returning to TV with a pilot for HBO titled The Leftovers. Based on the novel of the same name by Tom Perrotta, the show will take place in “a world where most of humanity mysteriously disappears” and the story will follow “the confused people who remain and their struggle to survive with constant questions and insecurities.”
Today, Variety broke the news that Justin Theroux has been cast in the lead role. He’ll play Kevin Garvey, “the town’s leader who tries to keep things normal even with frightening questions to be answered.”
If you’re unfamiliar with the novel, check out the plot summary below.
What if—whoosh, right now, with no explanation—a number of us simply vanished? Would some of us collapse? Would others of us go on, one foot in front of the other, as we did before the world turned upside down?That’s what the bewildered citizens of Mapleton, who lost many of their neighbors, friends and lovers in the event known as the Sudden Departure, have to figure out. Because nothing has been the same since it happened—not marriages, not friendships, not even the relationships between parents and children.
Kevin Garvey, Mapleton’s new mayor, wants to speed up the healing process, to bring a sense of renewed hope and purpose to his traumatized community. Kevin’s own family has fallen apart in the wake of the disaster: his wife, Laurie, has left to join the Guilty Remnant, a homegrown cult whose members take a vow of silence; his son, Tom, is gone, too, dropping out of college to follow a sketchy prophet named Holy Wayne. Only Kevin’s teenaged daughter, Jill, remains, and she’s definitely not the sweet “A” student she used to be. Kevin wants to help her, but he’s distracted by his growing relationship with Nora Durst, a woman who lost her entire family on October 14th and is still reeling from the tragedy, even as she struggles to move beyond it and make a new start.
Peter Berg is set to direct the pilot and with Theroux in the lead role and Lindelof behind the script, I’m definitely looking forward to The Leftovers.
Though mostly known for his comedic roles, Theroux is a solid actor who should be getting more recognition than he does. If this pilot does well, and the show takes off, it will no doubt give the actor a much deserved boost in fame.
Now, as exciting as Theroux and Berg may be for some people, I think the reason that most of us will tune in is because of Lindelof. The man hasn’t been back to TV land since Lost ended and due to his involvement alone, a lot of people are going to be keeping their eye on this one, and rightfully so.
What do you think of Justin Theroux leading The Leftovers? Let us know in the comments below.
