Showtime books an Uber drama

Showtime has ordered an anthology series exploring disruptive businesses, kicking off with an instalment focusing on the rise of Uber starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (photo: Dorothy)

Super Pumped, based on Mike Isaac’s bestselling book Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber, will tell the story of one of Silicon Valley’s most successful and disruptive tech companies.

Gordon-Levitt (The Trial of the Chicago 7) is on board to play Travis Kalanick, the former Uber CEO who was ultimately ousted in a boardroom coup.

The US premium cablenet said the show will depict the rollercoaster ride of the start-up transportation company, embodying the highs and lows of Silicon Valley.

It is the first instalment of an anthology series in which each season explores a story that rocked the business world to its core and changed cultures.

Billions showrunners Brian Koppelman and David Levien, plus Beth Schacter (Soundtrack) will executive produce, write and serve as showrunners on the series.

Paul Schiff, Stephen Schiff and Allyce Ozarski will also executive produce and Isaac will co-executive produce the project.

It will be produced by Showtime and is part of Koppelman and Levien’s overall deal with the ViacomCBS-owned network, which was signed in 2019.

Amy Israel, executive VP of scripted programming at Showtime Networks, said: “Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a remarkably intelligent and charismatic actor, embodying charm with an unpredictable edge. We are beyond excited to see what he will bring to the role of Travis Kalanick, the hyper-brilliant and controversial CEO whose ambition and reckless drive threatened the very enterprise he was determined to build.”