HBO is diving headfirst into the messy waters of middle age with its latest series order, DTF St. Louis. This darkly comedic limited series, helmed by writer-director Steven Conrad (Patriot, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), features a heavyweight cast with Jason Bateman and David Harbour starring and executive producing. The premise? A love triangle gone wrong, very wrong, resulting in a dead body. Sounds like the perfect recipe for HBO’s signature blend of humor and heartbreak.
While details are currently as scarce as a good night’s sleep for the over-40 crowd, HBO’s description hints at a story exploring the anxieties and absurdities of midlife malaise. Given Conrad’s track record of quirky, character-driven narratives, DTF St. Louis is likely to be more than just a whodunit. It’s a safe bet that the series will explore the desperation, humor, and quiet tragedies that can accompany the realization that youth is a rapidly fading memory.
With Bateman and Harbour involved, the project already has a strong pedigree. Their combined talent for both comedic timing and dramatic depth makes them ideal choices to tackle the potentially treacherous terrain of a midlife crisis love triangle.
And with a seven-episode order, DTF St. Louis has plenty of room to unpack the emotional baggage that comes with age, ambition, and the occasional ill-advised romantic entanglement.
DTF St. Louis is an Escape Artists and MGM Television production for HBO. Executive producers are Steven Conrad, Jason Bateman, David Harbour, Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, Molly Allen, Bruce Terris, Michael Costigan, Kristina Wenson, James Lasdun.
