Oscar-winning superstar Julia Roberts will narrate the BBC’s upcoming adaptation of Rónán Hession’s Leonard and Hungry Paul.
This is the Erin Brokovich star’s first BBC role and will see her provide narration for the show about two board-gaming friends in their thirties. The friends meander through leafy suburban life, charting a story about Judo, ancient Rome, first loves and the expansion of the Universe.
Revealed by Deadline several weeks back and airing later this fall, Leonard and Hungry Paul for the BBC and Irish broadcaster RTÉ stars Laurie Kynaston (Fool Me Once, The Sandman), Jamie-Lee O’Donnell (Derry Girls, Screw) and Alex Lawther (The End of the F***ing World, Alien: Earth). Also joining the cast are Helen Behan (The Virtues), Lorcan Cranitch (Bloodlands), Niamh Branigan (Harry Wild), Paul Reid (Sherlock & Daughter), Charlotte McCurry (Say Nothing) and David O’Reilly (Doctors).
Richie Conroy and Mark Hodkinson are adapting the series for TV. Subotica is producing the show with Avalon. Tristan Orpen Lynch, Executive Producer for Subotica, said: “It is truly wonderful to have the amazingly talented Julia Roberts join the production, we had heard she was a big fan of Rónán’s beautiful book and she brings a real warmth and genuine compassionate understanding to this important role which guides us through the unique world and special characters.”
Roberts is a huge coup for the show, which looks set to be a big one coming out of BBC Northern Ireland. She is currently in Venice promoting Luca Guadagnino’s cancel culture drama After The Hunt.
Leonard And Hungry Paul is a Subotica production for BBC Northern Ireland in association with BBC Comedy, Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland and RTÉ, and a co-production with Avalon, which will distribute the show internationally. The series was commissioned by Eddie Doyle, Senior Head of Commissioning, BBC Northern Ireland. EPs are Orpen Lynch and Aoife O’Sullivan for Subotica, alongside in-house producer Natalie McAuley. Paula Warwick and Adam Barth are EPs for Avalon, production finance assistance is provided by Marc Lorber, The Art of Coproduction. The director is Andrew Chaplin. Kate McColgan is EP for Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland and other EPs include Wally Hall, David Harari, Morwin Schmookler, Ross Boucher and George Rush. Mary McKeagney and Emma Lawson are Commissioning Editors for the BBC.
The post Julia Roberts Narrating BBC Series ‘Leonard And Hungry Paul’ appeared first on Deadline.
