Sean Penn to Star in Beau Willimon’s Hulu Series The First

Sean Penn has signed on to star in Beau Willimon’s Mars series at Hulu, The First

Sean Penn (Milk, 21 Grams) is going to make his small screen debut as a TV series regular. He’s joined Beau Willimon‘s (House of Cards, The Ides of March) Mars series The First for Hulu. Set in the near future, The First will follow the first human mission to Mars exploring the challenges of taking the first steps toward interplanetary colonization. The story focuses not only on the astronauts, but also on their families and loved ones, as well as the ground team on Earth.

The First has a straight-to-series order from Hulu and Channel 4. There are no details about Sean Penn’s role in the series. Willimon will serve as executive producer alongside his producing partner Jordan Tappis under their Westward Productions banner.

“I have such deep admiration for Sean’s immense talent and extraordinary body of work,” said Willimon. “I feel very lucky to be collaborating with an artist of his caliber.”

The series will go into production this year and is slated to premiere on Hulu and Channel 4 in 2018. Executive producers are Beau Willimon and Jordan Tappis for Westward. The series was commissioned for Channel 4 by Simon Maxwell, Head of International Drama, and Beth Willis, Head of Drama. For Hulu the series was commissioned by Craig Erwich, Senior Vice President of Content and Beatrice Springborn, Vice President of Content Development.

Penn has appeared on a number of TV series in the past, but never as a series regular. He’s been nominated five times for an Academy Award for Best Actor, for Dead Man Walking, Sweet and Lowdown and I Am Sam, winning for Mystic River and Milk.

What do you guys think of Sean Penn starring in The First? Let us know at @ComingSoonnet.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

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