It's Official: William H. Macy To Star Opposite Chris Meloni In Hulu's NFL Drama From Dan Fogelman
Are you ready for some (fictional) football?!
William H. Macy has officially joined Hulu's upcoming NFL drama from Dan Fogelman, TVLine has learned.
TVLine exclusively broke the news that Macy was circling the project in July; we can now report that he will be a series regular. Though the project does not officially have a title, we also reported then that it's tentatively called 17 Sundays.
First announced in October, the new series will be written and executive-produced by Fogelman, who also has Season 2 of Paradise and Season 5 of Only Murders in the Building (where he's an EP) in the works at Hulu. Plot details are being kept under wraps as of now, but sources describe it as a sprawling drama set inside the world of the NFL with a generational family component.
Macy will play Hank Durkin, a team owner. As previously reported, Chris Meloni (Law & Order: Organized Crime) will play the head coach of an NFL team.
Meloni is best known for playing Det. Elliot Stabler, a role he originated on Law & Order: SVU and now plays on Peacock's Law & Order: Organized Crime. His other TV credits include Oz, Happy! and Underground. Macy was a six-time Emmy nominee for his role as patriarch Frank Gallagher on Showtime's Shameless and previously recurred on ER; he's mainly known for his film works in movies like Fargo, Boogie Nights and Magnolia.
For all you Law & Order: OC fans worried about this news, Meloni's casting here does not necessarily spell doom for OC, a source maintains, and here's why: 17 Sundays would shoot in the fall, while Organized Crime — if it's renewed for Season 6 — would return to production in the spring. Season 5 of Organized Crime wrapped up its 10-episode run in June. (Additional reporting by Michael Ausiello)
Are you ready to hit the field with Hulu, now that Meloni and Macy are warming up? Join us in the comments to share your thoughts on the casting news.