While Vince Vaughn hasn’t disappeared, he has arguably been away from the spotlight for a number of years. Producing and starring in films nowhere near as popular as his early comedies “Wedding Crashers,” “Dodgeball,” and “The Break-Up.” His dramatic portrayal of a crime lord in the second season of “True Detective” was poorly received. But to be fair, critics and audiences alike unfairly scrutinized a series coming off a monumental first season that was a game-changer for the anthology crime format. A follow-up had impossible expectations that could not easily be met.
Since then, his presence on screen has been in hit-or-miss dramas and thrillers and mainly in supporting roles. While he’s had some success with roles in films like “Hacksaw Ridge” and “Fighting With My Family,” what’s lacking is the humor and quick wit infused in his characters since his breakout role as Trent in “Swingers,” which put him on the map back in 1996.
READ MORE: ‘Bad Monkey’: Vince Vaughn To Star In Apple TV+ Series From ‘Ted Lasso’ Co-Creator
Thankfully, “Bad Monkey” puts Vaughn front and center in a brand new comedy series from “Ted Lasso” and “Scrubs” showrunner Bill Lawrence. Hopefully, the fusion of the former frat pack star with one of the most successful comedy producers working today will deliver laughs along with quality stories involving funny, relatable characters that have made Lawrence’s recent TV products, like ‘Lasso’ and “Shrinking,” critical and commercial hits.
Along with star Vaughn, the ensemble cast also includes L. Scott Caldwell, Rob Delaney, Meredith Hagner, Natalie Martinez, Alex Moffat, Michelle Monaghan, Ronald Peet, and Jodie Turner-Smith, with special guest star John Ortiz and guest stars Zach Braff and Charlotte Lawrence in her television debut.
Based on the best-selling novel by Carl Hiaasen, the series stars Vaughn as a detective turned food inspector embroiled in a world of greed, corruption, and murder in the Florida Keys.
Here’s the synopsis:
“Bad Monkey” tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vaughn), who has been bounced from the Miami Police Department and is now a health inspector in the Keys. But after stumbling upon a case that begins with a human arm fished up by tourists, he realizes that if he can prove murder, he’ll be back in. He just needs to get past a trove of Floridian oddballs and one bad monkey.
Vaughn and Bill Lawrence are executive producers in collaboration with Warner Bros. Television. “Bad Monkey” is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on August 14. Watch the first trailer below.