Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

‘Get Shorty’ TV series nabs Chris O’ Dowd and Ray Romano for leads

get shorty tv series chris odowd ray romano o dowd
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Elmore Leonard’s 1990 novel Get Shorty was already adapted for a well-received 1995 film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and now the story of a mob enforcer who tries to go legit as a movie producer is being turned into a television series, too.

EPIX and MGM Television have reportedly signed Emmy-winning Everybody Loves Raymond star Ray Romano and The IT Crowd actor Chris O’Dowd  to star in the series, which will take the form of a 10-episode first season comprised of one-hour episodes. The Get Shorty series will be executive produced by Shameless writer and executive producer Davey Holmes.

Recommended Videos

According to Deadline, which first reported on the project, O’Dowd and Romano will portray characters similar to the parts played by John Travolta and Gene Hackman, respectively, in the 1995 film.

The initial description of the series has O’Dowd playing Miles Daly, the enforcer for a vicious criminal organization in Nevada, who decides to change professions for the sake of his daughter. While attempting to become a movie producer — and launder his earnings through the film — he has a difficult time leaving his criminal past behind him, and finds himself dealing with a whole new set of problems in Los Angeles.

The 1995 film based on Leonard’s novel also starred Rene Russo and Danny DeVito, and earned positive reviews from professional critics and general audiences on its way to $115 million worldwide. The film spawned a 2005 sequel titled Be Cool, based on Leonard’s sequel to Get Shorty. The sequel had Travolta’s movie producer turning his attention to the music industry in order to help an old friend.

Get Shorty is expected to premiere in 2017, with production beginning this fall. The series will air on Epix television network Epix On Demand, Epix.com, and on the TV Everywhere digital platform.

Rick Marshall
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
The 10 most popular TV shows on Netflix right now
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul stare in a face-off.

Exploring the thousands of titles on Netflix can be both exciting and overwhelming. Content of all types abounds, from dramas and comedies to reality shows and documentaries. It's a good thing there's a list to help narrow your decision by letting you see the most popular Netflix shows. That's right, every week, Netflix releases its list of the 10 most-watched TV shows over a recent seven-day period.

The Pogues are back for another go-round in Outer Banks season 4, part 2, the No. 1 show on Netflix. The Diplomat held strong at No. 2, followed by Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson at No. 3. Another new entry on the list is Arcane season 2, the streamer's excellent animated action series set in the League of Legends universe. Below, we have listed the top 10 shows in the U.S. from November 4 to November 10, along with general information about each show, including genre, rating, cast, and synopsis.

Read more
James Bond producer teases her vision for the next 007
James Bond rides a motorcycle in Skyfall.

The next actor to play James Bond is arguably the biggest mystery in Hollywood. It's been over three years since Daniel Craig's final outing as 007 in No Time to Die, and there haven't been any significant known developments in the casting of the next Bond.

Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are the gatekeepers of the James Bond franchise. They will decide the next actor to play the secret agent with a license to kill. While the name of the actor remains unknown, Broccoli did tease the specifications she's looking for in the next 007.

Read more
When does Netflix’s The Night Agent season 2 start streaming? It’s closer than you think
A man leans up against a wall with a phone in his hand.

You'll be able to kick off 2025 with one of Netflix's most popular TV shows, The Night Agent.

On Wednesday, Netflix revealed that The Night Agent season 2 will stream on January 23, 2025. The sophomore season will consist of 10 episodes. A brief season 2 teaser accompanied the announcement and highlighted the return of Gabriel Basso as Peter Sutherland. The action-packed footage features Peter embarking on an explosive mission for the secretive organization Night Action.

Read more