HBO Max hands 15-episode order to Greg Berlanti drama How to Survive Without Me

Sarah Aubrey

US streamer HBO Max has given a 15-episode order to How To Survive Without Me, a one-hour family drama from writer and executive producer Greg Berlanti and his Berlanti Productions banner.

The Warner Bros Television series stars Ray Romano, Kaley Cuoco, Joshua Jackson and Julia Schlaepfer, alongside Jack Ball, Kylar Miranda, Julian Grey, Scarlett Abinante, Tommy Dewey, Matthew Kellison, Colette Porch, Ella Rubin and Rita Wilson.

Romano plays the patriarch of the De Angelis family, while Wilson plays Beverly, the deceased matriarch whose death sets the story in motion.

The drama follows the De Angelis family as they struggle to stay connected after Beverly’s death. Having spent much of their lives relying on her guidance, the family members begin to drift apart, only to discover Beverly has devised a way to continue guiding them from beyond the grave.

The pilot was written by Berlanti and Bash Doran and is based on a story by Berlanti, Doran and Robbie Rogers. Doran, Rogers, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Ryan O’Connell and Daniel Minahan executive produce, with Minahan also directing.

The order marks a return to family drama for Berlanti, whose first series as a creator was Everwood, which premiered on The WB in 2002. Berlanti, who is under an overall deal with Warner Bros Television, said the project was his “most personal” work in years, drawing on his and husband Rogers’ own family experiences of love and loss.

Sarah Aubrey, head of HBO Max original programming, added: “Ray Romano, Kaley Cuoco, Joshua Jackson, and Rita Wilson lead a dream cast perfect for this emotional, extraordinary story. We’re delighted to be in business again with Greg and our partners at Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television.”