Ray Romano has joined HBO’s rock ‘n’ roll drama pilot from executive producers Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger, the network said Friday.
Romano will play Zak Yankovich, the close confidante and right hand man to Richie Finestra (Bobby Cannavale), a recording executive. Yankovich is described as the tough and sharp-witted promotions head at Finestra’s record label with years of experience dating back to the shady, mob-infested days of the recording business.
The project, which has the working title “The Long Play,” is set in 1970s New York and explores the drug- and sex-fueled music business as disco and punk were breaking out, through the eyes of record producer Finestra.
Scorsese is attached to direct the pilot, which the network hopes to start production on early summer 2014.
Romano, who recently reprised his voice role as Manny the Mammoth in “Ice Age: Continental Drift” and co-stars in upcoming film “Rob the Mob,” joins an A-list class including Olivia Wilde, Juno Temple, Max Casella and Jack Quaid.
Also read: ‘Maleficent’s’ Juno Temple Joins Martin Scorsese, Mick Jagger’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Pilot for HBO
Executive producer Terence Winter (“Wolf of Wall Street”) co-wrote the pilot with showrunner George Mastras.
Romano is repped by Adam Schweitzer, Edward Yablans and Carol Goll at ICM Partners and managed by Rory Rosegarten at The Conversation Company.