David Fincher Takes Second Series to HBO, Set to Direct New ’80s Music Video Comedy
After the box office success of his last feature, “Gone Girl,” no one would blame David Fincher for staying in the film world. Instead, he’s heading back to TV with a new “Entourage”-esque series about a kid who drops out of college to make movies in Hollywood, only to be hired as a production assistant at a company that makes music videos.
According to The Hollywood Reporter (and unconfirmed by HBO), “Video Synchronicity” (previously known as “Living on Video”) will bring Fincher back to the roles of TV director and executive producer. The series is based on his own idea, and Fincher will write the first season alongside Bob Stephenson (who had bit parts in “Zodiac” and “Fight Club”) and Rich Wilkes (who previously wrote “Airheads,” “Glory Daze,” and “xXx”).
Charlie Rowe, who was most recently seen on “Red Band Society,” will play series star Robby. Functioning as our gateway into the budding music video industry in the early 1980s, Robby will run the gamut of the decade’s attractions and heartbreak in Los Angeles.
Fincher has won two Grammys for his work in music videos, and he himself came into the industry as a music video director. No one has said the story is autobiographical, but one has to imagine a lot of Fincher’s own stories will be played out in some fashion.
The pickup is also intriguing considering Fincher’s upstanding relationship with Netflix after helping them establish a prominent originals department through “House of Cards.” Fincher has been given credit on numerous occasions as the driving force behind adapting the series for U.S. audiences, but his new project nevertheless landed at HBO. Fincher is reportedly working on a new drama series at HBO, as well, alongside “Gone Girl” screenwriter GIlian Flynn — but the two companies have become bitter rivals thanks to heated competition for Emmys, as well as HBO’s foray into streaming with HBO GO and then HBO NOW.
No release schedule was announced, but Fincher’s comedy pilot joined an upcoming slate including Lorne Michaels’ “Brothers in Atlanta” and Sarah Jessica Parker’s return to HBO with “Divorce.” The “Entourage” link also brings to mind “Ballers,” the upcoming Miami sports comedy starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
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