HBO Orders Limited Series ‘DTF St. Louis’ Starring David Harbour & Jason Bateman

HBO has greenlit the limited series “DTF St. Louis” with David Harbour and Jason Bateman set for two of the lead roles, Variety has learned.

HBO has given the series a seven-episode order. The show was originally announced as being in development back in 2022 with Harbour and Pedro Pascal attached to star and executive produce. The project was originally inspired by the James Lasdun New Yorker article “My Dentist’s Murder Trial: Adultery, False Identities, and a Lethal Sedation.”

However, according to an individual with knowledge of the project, the creative direction of the series evolved over time and is now based on a wholly original idea with no connection to the original article. In addition, Pascal is no longer attached in any capacity. He remains in business with HBO, though, with the second season of “The Last of Us” set to debut in 2025.

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The official logline for “DTF St. Louis” describes it as “a darkly comedic limited series about a love triangle between three adults experiencing middle-age malaise, that leads to one of them ending up dead.”

Steven Conrad remains attached as the series writer, showrunner, executive producer, and director. Both Harbour and Bateman will executive produce, with Bateman doing so under his Aggregate Films banner. Additional executive producers include: Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch for Escape Artists; Molly Allen; Bruce Terris; Michael Costigan for Aggregate Films; Kristina Wenson for Bravo Axolotl; Lasdun; and MGM Television.

“We are tremendously excited to work with the brilliant auteur Steve Conrad, whose singularity of vision lies central to all his work as a storyteller,” said Francesca Orsi, executive vice president of HBO Programming and head of HBO Drama Series and Films. “With David Harbour and Jason Bateman at series center, two masterful titans in their own right, we couldn’t be more emboldened by the journey ahead and look forward to sharing this special, emotionally provocative piece with the world come time.”

Bateman is no stranger to HBO, as he previously starred in, directed, and executive produced the limited series “The Outsider” at the premium cabler. His work on the show earned him an Emmy nomination for best guest actor in a drama series on 2020. Bateman has also received Emmy nods for his work on the hit Netflix series “Ozark” as both an actor and director, winning the award for best directing for a drama series in 2019. He has been nominated for his work on shows like “Arrested Development” and, most recently, as an executive producer on the Apple TV+ series “Lessons in Chemistry.” He is currently prepping the Netflix series “Black Rabbit,” in which he stars with Jude Law.

Harbour currently stars in the blockbuster Netflix series “Stranger Things,” which is prepping to release its fifth and final season. Harbour has received two Emmy nominations for his work on the show to date. He has also starred in shows such as “Q Force,” “Manhattan,” and “Rake” as well as films like “Black Widow,” “Black Mass,” “The Equalizer,” and “Hellboy.”

Conrad is known for creating shows like “Ultra City Smiths” and “Patriot” as well as co-creating “Perpetual Grace, LTD.” He has also written films like “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” “Wonder,” and “The Pursuit of Happyness.”

Harbour is repped by WME and Sloane Offer. Conrad is repped by CAA and Weintraub Tobin. Bateman and Aggregate Films are repped by CAA and Lighthouse Management + Media, while Bateman is also repped by Hansen Jasobsen, and Shelter PR.