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The Roku Channel is getting in on the original content game with the new TV series The Now premiering on Dec. 10, 2021. Directed by academy award winners Peter and Bobby Farrelly, the Roku original show includes a star-studded cast that includes Bill Murray, Dave Franco, Darryl Hannah, and more. Here’s what we know about the series.

Bill Murray sits in a chair across from Dave Franco in a still from the new Roku Original series called 'The Now'
Bill Murray and Dave Franco in a scene from ‘The Now’ | Roku

What is Roku Channel’s ‘The Now’ about?

The comedic series The Now follows the life of Dave Franco’s character Ed Poole as he deals with his brother’s recent suicide. In a news release sent to Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Roku describes the show as “a dark comedy examines what exactly makes life worth living through the eyes of Ed Poole (Dave Franco). For Ed, life isn’t going as he planned. However, a tragic event causes him to rethink his outlook, forcing him to go after what he loves, cherish the people closest to him and live in The Now.”

Who are the cast members in ‘The Now’?

Aside from Franco (Neighbors, 21 Jump Street), the cast includes O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Straight Outta Compton,) Jimmy Tatro (American Vandal, 22 Jump Street,) and Darryl Hannah (Splash, Kill Bill: Vol. 1) in starring roles. However, there are plenty of big names in recurring roles too. Bill Murray (Ghostbusters, Lost in Translation) plays the role of Ed’s unconcerned therapist. Pete Davidson (SNL, King of Staten Island,) Alyssa Milano (Fear, Who’s the Boss?,) and Rob Yang (Succession, Living with Yourself) also appear regularly throughout the show.

Peter and Bobby Farrelly served in dual roles for the creation of ‘The Now’

The Farrelly Brothers are well-known for comedies such as Dumb and Dumber, and There’s Something About Mary, so it’s safe to say The Now includes plenty of laughs. While the show certainly lands full force in the comedy genre, it also revolves around serious topics like suicide. 

In an interview with the Roku Channel, Peter Farrelly explained, “I wanted to make a show about living in the present because I personally have lived too much in the future and the past and I think a lot of people do. We worry about the future, and we have regrets about the past, yet we are only ever living in the now. The future and the past are just concepts, but all life takes place in the present. If you want to make changes in your life you have to make them in the now.”

Peter’s brother Bobby felt that getting just the right cast to perform was crucial to the show’s success. “We knew that we needed a stellar cast to tell this story properly, and that’s what we got. Collaborating with Dave Franco, O’Shea Jackson, Jimmy Tatro, Bill Murray, Alyssa Milano, and Daryl Hannah was an unforgettable experience, and the result is something that we’re very proud of. We can’t wait to share it with everyone on The Roku Channel,” the Academy Award-winning director said.

How can you watch the new series?

The Now runs for 14 episodes, and all of those drop at one time on Dec. 10, 2021. Airing exclusively on the Roku Channel, the series is free to anyone who downloads the streaming service, as well as via Roku’s site.

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