Elizabeth Banks assembles an ensemble cast for her forthcoming Apple TV comedy series, adding Hamish Linklater, Michelle Buteau, and Simu Liu in recurring roles. Linklater brings his talents from "Widow's Bay" and "Manhunt," while Buteau recently starred in Netflix's "Survival of the Thickest." Liu, fresh off Marvel's "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" and Greta Gerwig's "Barbie," rounds out the trio.
The half-hour comedy expands an already robust lineup that includes Ted Danson, Katey Sagal, Rob Delaney, Jared Goldstein, and Spencer Moss. The series will film in Los Angeles later this year.
Banks continues her prolific production career through Brownstone Productions while also starring in the project, a testament to Apple's investment in star-driven comedy content. The casting signals the streamer's commitment to blending established television talent, comedy specialists, and rising film stars into a single comedic vehicle. Liu's inclusion particularly underscores Apple's strategy of recruiting A-list talent from both Marvel and prestige cinema.
The project arrives as Apple TV expands its comedy slate amid intensifying competition from Netflix, Hulu, and Max. Banks' involvement carries weight given her track record producing hits like "Pitch Perfect" and serving as a consistent on-screen presence across broadcast and streaming platforms. Sagal and Danson both bring decades of sitcom credibility, while Delaney's deadpan humor has become synonymous with prestige comedy following his work on "Catastrophe."
This ensemble approach reflects current streaming preferences for stacked casts that appeal to multiple demographics and fan bases simultaneously. Rather than centering the narrative on a single lead, the strategy distributes comedic weight