Showtime’s American Gigolo, starring Jon Bernthal and set to premiere on Friday, September 9, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, is reimagining one of the most memorable films of the 1980s. The 2022 adaption, created by David Hollander, takes set 15 years after Julian Kaye’s erroneous arrest and imprisonment, as he tries to find his way in the modern-day Los Angeles s*x business. Kaye is followed as he navigates his tangled relationships and tries to reconcile with his ex-lover Michelle Stratton, his problematic mother, and the individuals who stabbed him in the back and sentenced him to jail. Everything you need to know about Showtime’s new crime drama is right here.
Everything we know about American Gigolo, including the release date, cast, and crew.
American Gigolo will debut on Showtime on Friday, September 9, at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The recurring cast includes Wayne Brady as Lorenzo and Laura Liguori as Elizabeth Shannon House, as well as Jon Bernthal as Julian Kaye, Gabriel LaBelle as young Julian Kaye, Gretchen Mol as Michelle, Rosie O’Donnell as Detective Sunday, Lizzie Brocheré as Isabelle, and Leland Orser as Richard Stratton.
According to the series’ official synopsis:
“Follows Julian Kaye after his erroneous conviction release from jail after 15 years, as he battles to regain his feet in the modern-day Los Angeles s*x business and navigates his difficult relationships.”
American Gigolo is produced by Jon Bernthal and executive produced by David Hollander, Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, and KristieAnne Reed.
More about American Gigolo: Trailer and the series’ inspiration
In July, the official trailer for American Gigolo debuted, providing a look inside Julian Kaye’s search for the person responsible for his 15-year sentence. It also hinted at the character’s revived romance with Michelle, whose husband may be the one who framed him. The show received a 10-episode series order in June and will be accessible to watch on Showtime, with new episodes published weekly. The Showtime television version of American Gigolo is primarily inspired by the 1980 film, which starred Richard Gere as Julian Kaye, a Los Angeles callboy who leads an expensive life as a high-paying prostitute.
Kaye had it all: the Giorgio Armani suits, the Mercedes, and a steady clientele of wealthy, older women looking for a good time, that is, until he was wrongfully accused of a murder he did not commit, and no one was willing to help him prove his innocence, except for the frustrated politician’s wife and non-paying bedmate Michelle Stratton. Paul Schrader directed the 1980 picture, which was influenced by European art cinema. In the criminal drama film, Schrader combined the steamier aspect of s*x with the hazards of riches. The film is a sleek depiction of a pleasure-seeking, emotionally disconnected person immersed in Los Angeles’ high life with no care for the repercussions, only to get accidentally enmeshed in one.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, producer Jerry Bruckheimer said of his collaboration with Paramount to remake the 1980 film:
“With its characteristic noir style, American Gigolo has remained a profoundly engaging, psychological thriller, and I’m excited to collaborate with [Paramount CEO] Brad [Grey] and [Paramount TV president] Amy [Powell] on adapting it into a television series.”