MGM+ ORDERS COMEDY SERIES "AMERICAN CLASSIC" STARRING OSCAR(R) WINNER KEVIN KLINE

The comedy series comes from co-creators Michael Hoffman (Soapdish, Restoration, The Last Station) and Bob Martin (The Prom, Slings and Arrows) and stars Kevin Kline (Disclaimer) alongside co-star Jon Tenney (The Closer, Scandal); Hoffman to direct the pilot

FIFTH SEASON is the studio with Mar-Key Pictures, Likely Story and Anonymous Content producing. This reunites Hoffman and Kline, who previously worked together on Soapdish and A Midsummer Night's Dream

LOS ANGELES - January 28, 2025 - Premium linear channel and streaming service MGM+ announced today an eight-episode series order for American Classic, a half-hour comedy series from co-creators Michael Hoffman (Soapdish, Restoration, The Last Station) and Bob Martin (The Prom, Slings and Arrows). The series, which will debut with eight episodes, from FIFTH SEASON as the studio with Mar-Key Pictures, Likely Story, and Anonymous Content producing. Kevin Kline (Disclaimer), who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in A Fish Called Wanda, will star as "Richard Bean." Jon Tenney (The Closer, Scandal) will co-star as "Jon Bean," and Hoffman will direct the pilot episode.

Hoffman, Martin, and Ellen Fairey serve as executive producers alongside non-writing EPs Kline, Leslie Urdang, Anthony Bregman, and Miriam Mintz, David Levine and Garrett Kemble for Anonymous Content, and co-EP Tenney. Kevin Cotter will serve as co-producer. The series is scheduled to go into production in 2025 in New Jersey.

American Classic centers on Broadway star and notorious narcissist Richard Bean, played by Kline, who suffers a spectacular public meltdown and returns to his hometown and the family-run theater where he first became aware of his own brilliance. When he arrives, he is shocked to discover that his father, the former artistic director, has lost a step and that the once-respected theater, now run by his brother Jon, played by Tenney, and his wife (now the town's mayor) has become, by necessity, a low-rent dinner theater serving roast beef and murder mysteries. He decides to save the town, the theater, and the world by presenting a great American classic on the dinner theater stage, directed by and starring, of course, Richard Bean.

"MGM+ is television for movie lovers - classic Hollywood storytelling through a contemporary lens. American Classic, with its sophisticated wit, adult characters, and unique cast, is an exciting addition to that brand," said Michael Wright, head of MGM+. "In the capable hands of Michael Hoffman and Bob Martin, alongside stage and screen legend Kevin Kline, American Classic is a hilariously funny and deeply poignant comedy, and we can't wait to share it with our MGM+ audience."

"The two of us have been shaped from childhood by our love of the theater and those magical creatures that inhabit it: true actors," said Hoffman and Martin. "To get to tell a story with new friends and longtime collaborators, among them that grand man of the theater, Kevin Kline (who happens also to be one of the world's supreme comic talents), and a story about art, community, and family... for us, that's about as good as it gets."

Kevin Kline - "Richard Bean"

Over the course of his distinguished career, Kevin Kline has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a SAG Award, three Tony Awards, four Drama Desk Awards, and two Obie Awards. He has also been nominated for two Emmy Awards, two BAFTAs, and six Golden Globes. In 2003, he was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.

Kline stars opposite Cate Blanchett in Alfonso Cuarón's Golden Globe-nominated Apple TV+ limited series Disclaimer, for which he also received an individual nomination as well as a recent SAG Award nomination. He also appears in the upcoming feature A Big, Bold, Beautiful Journey, directed by Kogonada and starring Margot Robbie, Colin Farrell, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Additionally, he voices 'Mr. Fischoeder' on the popular animated series Bob's Burgers and reprised the role in Bob's Burgers: The Movie.

His most iconic film credits include Sophie's Choice, The Big Chill, Silverado, Cry Freedom, A Fish Called Wanda, I Love You to Death, Soapdish, Grand Canyon, Dave, In & Out, and The Ice Storm.

Jon Tenney - "Jon Bean"

Jon Tenney has been acting in film, television and theater for over three decades. In film, Tenney starred opposite Helen Hunt in the psychological thriller, I See You, for Netflix in 2023. He starred opposite Annette Bening in The Seagull for Sony Pictures Classics. Other film credits include Tombstone, You Can Count on Me, Albert Brooks' Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World, Fools Rush In, The Stepfather, Rabbit Hole, The Twilight of the Golds, and Watch It among others.

On television, Tenney earned five SAG Award nominations for his leading role as "Fritz Howard" opposite Kyra Sedgwick on TNT's critically acclaimed The Closer. Other television credits include Scandal, True Detective, And Just Like That, Newsroom, The Lincoln Lawyer and Amazon Prime's Cruel Intentions. In addition, Tenney directed multiple episodes of The Closer and its spin-off Major Crimes. On stage, Tenney starred in the Tony-winning Broadway revival of The Heiress and last appeared on stage at Lincoln Center in the NY premiere of Tom Stoppard's The Hard Problem having come full circle from making his professional stage debut in Mike Nichols' production of Stoppard's The Real Thing many moons ago.

Kevin Kline is represented by Berwick & Kovacik and UTA.

Jon Tenney is represented by LINK Entertainment and Gersh.

Michael Hoffman is represented by Timaeus Group and UTA.

Bob Martin is represented by Paradigm and Brian Stern of AGI Entertainment Media & Management.

About Fifth Season

Fifth Season is a global creative powerhouse specializing in the development, production, financing, and distribution of premium films, television series, and documentaries. Known for its talent-centric approach, the company has produced and distributed critically acclaimed films such as 80 for Brady, Book Club, and The Lost Daughter, as well as award-winning series like Severance, Nine Perfect Strangers, Omnivore and Tokyo Vice. Fifth Season operates with a full-service worldwide distribution infrastructure and boasts a vast network of production hubs across North America, Europe, and Asia. The company's roster of high-profile collaborators includes Oscar, BAFTA, and Emmy(R)-nominated and winning creators, top-tier talent, and major global distributors.

In addition to its successful slate of original productions, Fifth Season's distribution arm handles an impressive third-party library of hundreds of titles, including hit series such as Killing Eve, The Morning Show, and The Night Manager. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, New York, and London, with offices worldwide. Shareholders include CJ ENM, Toho, and Endeavor.

About Mar-Key Pictures

Mar-Key Pictures is a film and television production company helmed by Leslie Urdang whose feature credits include the Award-winning Beginners (Academy, Golden Globe, SAG, and BAFTA Awards for Christopher Plummer, Gotham Award winner for Best Picture), Rabbit Hole (Academy and Golden Globe nomination for Nicole Kidman), The Seagull starring Annette Bening, and Saoirse Ronan, (2019 Women's Image Network Award), John Patrick Shanley's Wild Mountain Thyme starring Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan, Jon Hamm and Christopher Walken, A Midsummer Night¹s Dream, directed by Michael Hoffman, starring Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Stanley Tucci, and Christian Bale, The Oranges starring Hugh Laurie, Allison Janney and Oliver Platt, Thanks for Sharing starring Mark Ruffalo, The Family Fang starring Nicole Kidman and Jason Bateman, Adam, starring Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne, Game Six starring Michael Keaton and Robert Downey Jr, Twelve, and Holding The Great New Wonderful, The Narrows, Me and Veronica, and People I Know starring Al Pacino.

About Likely Story

Likely Story is a bi-coastal film and television production company founded by Anthony Bregman and Stefanie Azpiazu in 2006. Likely Story's television series include Living With Yourself (Netflix) starring Paul Rudd, nominated for a Golden Globe; and the second season of Modern Love (Prime Video).

Their films have won awards at the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Gotham's, Indie Spirits, and Cannes, Berlin, Tribeca and Sundance Film Festivals, among others, and include the Academy Award-winning Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Foxcatcher, Sing Street, Do Revenge, In the Heights, Flora and Son, Eileen, You Hurt My Feelings, Private Life, The Half of It, Friends With Money, Begin Again, Enough Said, American Ultra, Our Idiot Brother, Synecdoche, New York, Please Give, The Savages, Thumbsucker, Collateral Beauty, The Circle, and Someone Great, among many others. Likely Story's upcoming releases include Doin' It directed by Sara Zandieh, Come Closer written and directed by Tom Nesher, and Power Ballad written and directed by John Carney.

About Anonymous Content

Anonymous Content is a global media company that produces premium content and boasts an exceptional roster of renowned directors, writers, and actors. Its award-winning Film, TV, and Documentary division, AC Studios, has delivered critically acclaimed works, including Academy Award and Emmy winners such as The Revenant, Spotlight, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Mr. Robot, along with Golden Globe-nominated recent projects The Nickel Boys, True Detective: Season 4, Alfonso Cuarón's Disclaimer, and upcoming series East of Eden starring Florence Pugh, and Neuromancer starring Callum Turner. Anonymous Content also operates internationally through co-ventures and partnerships. Through its Commercial division, the company continues to create campaigns for leading global brands. For more information, visit www.anonymouscontent.com.

Their films have won awards at the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTAs, Gotham's, Indie Spirits, and Cannes, Berlin, Tribeca and Sundance Film Festivals, among others, and include the Academy Award-winning Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Foxcatcher, Sing Street, Do Revenge, In the Heights, Flora and Son, Eileen, You Hurt My Feelings, Private Life, The Half of It, Friends With Money, Begin Again, Enough Said, American Ultra, Our Idiot Brother, Synecdoche, New York, Please Give, The Savages, Thumbsucker, Collateral Beauty, The Circle, and Someone Great, among many others. Likely Story's upcoming releases include Doin' It directed by Sara Zandieh, Come Closer written and directed by Tom Nesher, and Power Ballad written and directed by John Carney.

About MGM+

MGM+, an Amazon company, is a premium linear channel and streaming service delivering a broad lineup of exclusive original series and docuseries, current movie releases, and classic film franchises - all available in the U.S. on TV, on-demand, online, and across devices. MGM+ is a destination for premium content, with original series including sci-fi horror series FROM, Emmy-winning Godfather of Harlem, the Western adventure Billy the Kid, and upcoming mystery Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue and horror thriller The Institute, along with cinematic dramatic series Rogue Heroes, Belgravia, and War of the Worlds. The network is also the home of acclaimed docuseries, including the critically acclaimed In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon, Emmy-nominated Laurel Canyon, My Life as a Rolling Stone, NFL Icons, Hollywood Black, and The Wonderland Massacre & The Secret History of Hollywood. Premium movies are also available, including Gladiator II, Blink Twice, Challengers, IF, Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning, The Beekeeper, American Fiction, and Mean Girls.

MGM+ is available nationwide through cable, telco, satellite, digital distribution channels and the MGM+ app. For more information about the current MGM+ lineup, go to www.mgmplus.com or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.