In this time of need, when millions of people around the world are forced to stay indoors and avoid social situations, a hero has risen to help shepherd us through the hardships. And his name is Joe Exotic, the Tiger King. And thankfully, even though you’ve probably already experienced the story of Joe Exotic and his fight to keep his kingdom, it’s important to remember that we are far from done with his story, thanks to a new series that’s currently in development.
Back in November, Deadline reported that Kate McKinnon had been signed on to star in a new limited drama series, titled “Joe Exotic.” At the time, the news didn’t really stand out to many, as the series was being trumpeted as inspired by a Wondery podcast. But now that Netflix’s “Tiger King” series has taken the world by storm, inspiring countless memes and FaceTime conversations (we can’t talk in person, right now, remember), we need to be reminded that Kate McKinnon has been signed on to star in a new series that will adapt the completely batshit story.
READ MORE: ‘Tiger King’: A Redneck ‘Game Of Thrones’ Set In The World Of Exotic Animals [Review]
In the series, McKinnon is set to play Carole Baskin, the founder of Big Cat Rescue. And once you close your eyes and imagine the comedic actress saying the line, “Hey there, all you cool cats and kittens,” there’s no doubt that she’s the perfect choice to star. McKinnon has been a standout supporting actress in a variety of films over the years and has consistently been one of the highlights of ‘SNL’ for almost a decade, so “Joe Exotic” definitely feels like a series that can push her into true superstardom.
However, after you get past your excitement of McKinnon playing Baskin, you’re immediately left with the question, “Who can they possibly find to play Joe Exotic?” After watching all seven episodes of “Tiger King,” it’s really difficult to imagine anyone could step into the shoes of the middle-aged exotic animal wrangler, whose mullet, piercings, and camo look has already become iconic. It’s almost as if Joe Exotic himself is the only one that can accurately represent the man. But that’s likely not going to happen anytime soon, for obvious reasons.
Of course, we still don’t have a release date or network/streaming platform for “Joe Exotic,” and the COVID-19 pandemic has brought Hollywood’s productivity to a screeching halt. So, it would appear that we have plenty of time to figure out who is going to fill out the rest of the cast.
Speaking of Baskin and ‘SNL,’ McKinnon isn’t the only lady from the NBC series to portray the Big Cat Rescue founder. Recently, on Instagram, ‘SNL’ cast member Chloe Fineman did her best Baskin, and we have to admit, it’s pretty damn great.