Showtime’s trying out something new with the upcoming limited series Patrick Melrose. Showtime’s confirmed the five episode series will air on Saturdays, opening up a new night of original programming for the network. Patrick Melrose starring Benedict Cumberbatch will premiere on Saturday, May 12, 2018 and will air on Saturdays at 9pm ET/PT.
In addition to announcing the premiere date, Showtime released a new one minute clip from the series.
Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game) executive produces the series as well as starring in the title role. Michael Jackson, Rachael Horovitz, Alan Ackland, and Helen Flint also executive produce, with Jackson’s new Two Cities Television company making its debut with the production of Patrick Melrose.
“As the size of our programming slate continues to grow, it makes sense for Showtime to offer another night of premieres – allowing us the opportunity to eventize series like Patrick Melrose,” said David Nevins, President and CEO, Showtime Networks Inc. “Offering original content on Saturdays not only enables us to fully service our subscribers with diverse offerings, it gives viewers enough time to enjoy them all. And a series with the ambition and quality of Patrick Melrose is the perfect place to start.”
The limited series is based on Edward St. Aubyn’s series of semi-autobiographical novels. According to Showtime, each episode is devoted to one of the five novels. BAFTA Award nominee David Nicholls (Cold Feet) adapted the novels for the series and Edward Berger (Deutchland 83, Jack) directed.
The Plot: This five-part limited series hilariously skewers the upper class as it tracks the protagonist’s harrowing odyssey from a deeply traumatic childhood through adult substance abuse and, ultimately, toward recovery. In a tour de force role, Cumberbatch plays the titular character who struggles to overcome the damage inflicted by a horribly abusive father and the mother who tacitly condoned the behavior.
Oscar nominee Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight) and Screen Actors Guild winner Hugo Weaving (The Matrix trilogy) also star as Patrick Melrose’s parents. Rounding out this accomplished cast are Anna Madeley (The Crown), Blythe Danner (Meet the Fockers), Allison Williams (Get Out), Pip Torrens (The Crown), Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife), Prasanna Puwanarajah (Doctor Foster), Holliday Grainger (The Borgias, Bonnie & Clyde), Indira Varma (Game of Thrones), and Celia Imrie (Bridget Jones’s Baby).
