David Hyde Pierce Replaces Tom Hollander in HBO Max's New Julia Child Pilot
Hollander has stepped away from the project due to an apparent scheduling conflict.
David Hyde Pierce has replaced British actor Tom Hollander (Pride & Prejudice, Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation, Pirates of the Caribbean franchise) in an upcoming Julia Child pilot. The former Frasier star was tapped by HBO Max after Holland stepped away from the project due to an apparent scheduling conflict. Pierce will play Paul Child, Julia's husband.
David Hyde Pierce's notable movie roles in The Fisher King (1991), Sleepless In Seattle (1993), and Oliver Stone's Nixon (1995), and Wet Hot American Summer (2001). Pierce has also lent his voice to animated films like the Disney-Pixar smash hit A Bug's Life (1998), Osmosis Jones (2001), and Treasure Planet (2002).
From 2014-2015, he had a reoccuring role on the hit CBS legal drama The Good Wife.
Pierce is best known for his role as Dr. Niles Crane on the hit NBC sitcom Frasier. Throughout the show's 11 season run, Pierce was nominated for a perfect 11 Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He took home the award four times.
In 2007, Pierce won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Musical for his performance in Curtains. He also played Sir Robin on Monty Python's Spamalot and directed the 2015 Broadway musical It Shoulda Been You.
In the upcoming pilot, Sarah Lancashire (Dr. Who, Wuthering Heights) will be portraying Julia Child.
Also set to star in the pilot are Brittany Bradford as Alice, Fran Kranz as Russ, Fiona Glascott as Judith, Bebe Neuwirth as Avis, Isabella Rossellini as Simca, and Jefferson Mays as Albert.
Produced by Lionsgate TV, the pilot was written by Daniel Goldfarb, who will also serve as an executive producer. Showrunner Chris Keyser will also executive produce. Kimberly Carer and Erwin Stoff of 3 Arts Entertainment will be executive producers, as will director Charles McDougall.
Todd Schulkin will serve as a consulting producer on behalf of the Julia Child foundation.
In 2009, Academy Award winner Meryl Streep brought Julia Child to the big screen in the film Julie & Julia.
- Matt Bishop