HBO has unveiled aBarryfeaturette that goes behind the scenes of the pay cable channel’s highly anticipated new comedy series. The show hails fromSNLalumBill Hader, who explains in this new video that HBO was the first place he went to after leavingSaturday Night Live. He pitched the network on doing a series about a hitman who finds his passion in acting, and subsequently tries to balance a life between the two worlds.
Hader teamed up withSilicon ValleyandCurb Your EnthusiasmalumAlec Bergon the series, and the two serve as co-creators, executive producers, directors, and writers, overseeing every aspect of the dark comedy. The show has previously been described as having something of aCoen Brothersvibe, and that definitely comes off in the new footage revealed in this featurette.
You may or may not also know that Hader is a massive cinephile with a wealth of film knowledge at his disposal, so seeing him put that to use as a director for the first time on the series is an incredibly exciting prospect. WithVeepheading into its final season andSilicon Valleylikely ending sooner rather than later, I’m hopefulBarrymarks a compelling and unique new addition to HBO’s comedy lineup that will be a staple of the network for years to come.
Check out theBarryfeaturette below. The series also starsStephen Root,Sarah Goldberg,Glenn Fleshler,Anthony Carrigan, andHenry Winkler.Barrydebuts on HBO on March 25th at 10:30pm ET/PT.
Here’s the official synopsis forBarry:
BARRY is a dark comedy starring Bill Hader in the title role of a depressed, low-rent hitman from the Midwest who falls in love with acting while on a job in LA. Barry’s handler, Fuches (Stephen Root), hires him out to the violent Chechen mob in Los Angeles, led by Goran Pazar (Glenn Fleshler) and his right-hand man, Noho Hank (Anthony Carrigan).
Barry’s target: an aspiring actor who is having an affair with Pazar’s wife. Barry follows his “mark” into an acting class taught by beloved teacher/guru Gene Cousineau (Henry Winkler), and is instantly drawn to the group of students, particularly Sally (Sarah Goldberg). Although he wants to start a new life in this community of eager hopefuls, Barry’s criminal past won’t let him walk away. Can he find a way to balance the two worlds?
