Jean-Marc Vallée Takes on Gorilla and the Bird

Jean-Marc Vallée, the award-winning filmmaker behind Big Little Lies, Sharp Objects and Dallas Buyer’s Club, will return to HBO as the director of Gorilla and the Bird, a limited series based on the book of the same name. Here’s what we know so far.

What’s the story? The film, based on the memoir by Zack McDermott, is an inspirational tale of a mother’s unconditional love for her bipolar son. Zack (the Gorilla) fights to regain his sanity after a devastating psychotic break, turning to the only person who didn’t give up on him — his mother (the Bird). Once a highly successful public defender for the Legal Aid Society of New York, Zack goes on a harrowing journey of delusions and antisocial behavior, leading to his eventual arrest and commitment to Bellevue Hospital.

What’s going on behind the camera?  Besides Vallée, who will serve as director and executive producer, Channing Tatum, Reid Carolin and Peter Kiernan will executive produce with their production company, Free Association, the team behind the 22 Jump Street and Magic Mike franchises. Other executive producers include Nathan Ross, and Robin Schwartz, Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf of Big Beach (Puzzle, Little Miss Sunshine, Loving). Showrunner Bryan Sipe will serve as writer and executive producer; author Zack McDermott with co-executive produce.