Sure, it was only like five months, but it sure does feel like Netflix’s “Tiger King” took over the public discourse years ago, doesn’t it? Oh, how quickly the world can change in 2020, with each new month bringing yet another ridiculous obstacle. Frankly, I miss the good ol’ days of March 2020, when the pandemic seemed like only a minor inconvenience that would pass relatively quickly. But I digress.
READ MORE: More ‘Tiger King’ Reportedly On The Way But With A Brand-New Big Cat Story
Anyway…remember “Tiger King?” The Netflix docuseries that become a monster hit for the streaming platform has already spawned discussion of adaptations with actors such as Kate McKinnon and Nicolas Cage attached to star in rival productions. Well, it appears the McKinnon-led narrative series based on the story of Joe Exotic and his rivalry with Carole Baskin is moving forward at NBCUniversal, according to Deadline.
The report says that NBCUniversal has ordered a full season of “Joe Exotic” (working title), a series that will star McKinnon as big cat enthusiast Baskin in a years-long battle with zoo owner (and general sleazeball) Joe Exotic. The series is set to be written by Etan Frankel and will not only debut on NBC, but also on Peacock and USA Network, showing just how committed the studio is to making sure the series is a huge success.
McKinnon, of course, is best known for her award-winning work on “Saturday Night Live” and just based on her experience there, it’s safe to assume she’ll be great as Baskin. The role of Joe Exotic has yet to be cast, but obviously, there is no shortage of actors who would love to tackle the meaty role.
Frankel is probably best known for his work as writer and producer on series such as “Shameless,” “Animal Kingdom,” and “Sorry for Your Loss.” The new series will actually be based on the Wondery podcast about Joe Exotic and not the Netflix docuseries. So, it’s unclear if the show will be as over-the-top and somewhat silly (in a strange, almost scary way) as the Netflix version, but we shall see.
