It’s lovely to see former “Happy Days” star and Emmy-winner Henry Winkler in a full-blown renaissance period, just thriving as an outstanding comedic character actor on shows like “Arrested Development” and Bill Hader‘s hit HBO hitman comedy “Barry.” Winkler won the Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series at the 70th Emmy Awards for his work on “Barry,” and it’s clear that HBO wants to keep staying in the Winkler business as they’re looking to reunite for a new true-crime series at the prestigious television studio.
HBO has decided to reteam with Winkler for “King Rex,” according to a report from Deadline. Winkler will play Texas gangster Rex Cauble in a series directed/co-starring his son Max Winkler (“Flower,” “Jungleland“) that is based on a Texas Monthly article written by Lawrence Wright; published back in 1980 titled, “Rex Cauble & The Cowboy Mafia.”
“King Rex” explores a buried treasure of a True Crime mystery—how a North Texas kingdom got itself smashed to pieces by a judge’s gavel, the IRS, and the FBI.
The producing team consists of Malcolm Spellman (“Captain America 4,” “The Falcon & The Winter Soldier“) and Nichelle Tramble Spellman, with Trey Selman writing the pilot.
The outlet describes the character as “straight out” of Martin Scorsese‘s Las Vegas gangster pic “Casino” and will undoubtedly be a massive departure for Winkler, best-known for his good-guy persona.
At the ripe age of 67, the Texan crook was indicted under suspicion that he was bankrolling the “largest marijuana smuggling operation in Texas during the ’70s,” and given that hook alone should undoubtedly be a series that could counter things like “Narcos: Mexico” and “Breaking Bad.” Also, “King Rex” potentially fills a void that is going to be left by “Better Call Saul” and “Ozarks,” as those two crime shows have just wrapped up.
Winkler can be seen in the third season of “Barry,” which is currently airing on HBO.
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