Peacock plays it straight with Poker Face

NBCUniversal-owned US streaming service Peacock has given a straight-to-series order to Poker Face, the first drama series from Star Wars and Knives Out director Rian Johnson.

Rian Johnson
(photo: Dick Thomas Johnson)

Natasha Lyonne will star in the 10×60’ mystery series from US prodco T-Street and Ozark producer MRC Television.

Johnson will serve as creator, writer and director of the original series. He will also executive produce alongside partner Ram Bergman and T-Street television president Nena Rodrigue.

Lyonne, who co-created and co-wrote Netflix series Russian Doll, will executive produce via her Animal Pictures production shingle, along with co-exec producers Maya Rudolph and Danielle Renfrew Behrens.

Lisa Katz, president of scripted content at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, said: “Rian Johnson’s distinct sensibility and talent for telling edge-of-your-seat mysteries is a massive gift for Peacock, and we can’t wait for audiences to delve into each case.”

T-Street was launched in 2019 by Johnson and Ram Bergman. It is currently preparing the follow-up film to Knives Out, which Johnson is writing and directing, and producing Three Body Problem alongside David Benioff, DB Weiss and Alexander Woo for Netflix. MRC is a minority investor in T-Street, with a first-look deal across film and television.

Johnson said: “I’m very excited to dig into the type of fun, character-driven, case-of-the-week mystery goodness I grew up watching. It’s my happy place. Having Natasha as a partner in crime is a dream and we’ve found the perfect home at Peacock.”