You can thank “Mr. Robot” creator Sam Esmail for finally getting Julia Roberts and Dermot Mulroney together. Fictionally speaking, that is, as the two-time co-stars will be playing lovers on Amazon’s upcoming thriller series “Homecoming.” And it only took them three projects, over two decades, and the help of Esmail, to officially hook them up on screen.
“This is our third time working together,” Roberts told reporters during the show’s panel at the Television Critics Association press tour Saturday, of teaming up with fellow “My Best Friend’s Wedding” and “August: Osage County” alum, once more.
“But this is the ‘reunion,’” Esmail, who is directing “Homecoming,” chimed in. “Like, ’cause the second time you guys weren’t boyfriend and girlfriend.”
“Well, we weren’t boyfriend and girlfriend the first time, we were best friends,” Roberts clarified, which garnered significant laughter from the audience for the cute reference to the 1997 rom-com. “He was my sister’s boyfriend in ‘August: Osage County.’”
Both Mulroney and Esmail jumped in to correct her, as he was actually her sibling’s fiance in the Meryl Streep-led film.
“Fiance, excuse me,” she said. “That’s right,” Mulroney said. “And finally, my boyfriend. It only took 30 years,” Roberts said.
And though it’s really only been 21 years, we’ll allow Roberts her hyperbolic statement for dramatic effect.
“I kinda feel like I got you guys together finally,” Esmail added, proudly.
“Yes, Sam takes all the credit. He’s was like, ‘Oh I have a good idea,” she said. “How about Julia and Dermot? I bet that would be a cute match.’”
“Homecoming” — which hails from Universal Cable Productions (UCP) and Amazon Studios — is a psychological and political thriller that centers on Heidi (Roberts), a caseworker at a secret government facility and a soldier eager to rejoin civilian life. Based on Gimlet Media’s fictional podcast of the same name, the project marks Roberts’ first TV series regular role.
Mulroney is set for a recurring guest star role on the series, playing Anthony, Heidi’s boyfriend, who is eager to please, but a bit needy and grows increasingly frustrated with Heidi’s lack of attention to him and their relationship.
Bobby Cannavale and Stephan James will co-star in the 10-episode series. The script is penned by podcast creators Eli Horowitz and Micah Bloomberg and directed by Esmail. Esmail will produce under his UCP deal and is reunited with his “Mr. Robot” crew on the series, including for director of photography Tod Campbell, production designer Anastasia White, and costume designer Catherine Marie Thomas.
“Homecoming” is produced by Esmail through his production company Esmail Corp, as well as “Mr. Robot” executive producer Chad Hamilton of Anonymous Content, Horowitz and Bloomberg, and Chris Giliberti, Alex Blumberg, and Matt Lieber of Gimlet Media. Roberts also executive produces through her production company Red Om Films, with her partners Lisa Gillan and Marisa Yeres Gill co-executive producing.
“Homecoming” will debut Friday, November 2 on Prime Video.