Kaley Cuoco Joins Ray Romano & Joshua Jackson In ‘How To Survive Without Me’ HBO Max Drama Pilot
Kaley Cuoco, whose thriller The Flight Attendant became one of HBO Max‘s first hit originals, is back at the streamer as the female lead opposite Ray Romano and Joshua Jackson in drama pilot How To Survive Without Me, from Greg Berlanti, Bash Doran and Warner Bros TV. The three stars, who have all headlined their own series, have pay parity on How To Survive Without Me, I hear.
This marks a reunion for Cuoco and Berlanti whose Berlanti Productions was a production company on The Flight Attendant, with Cuoco and Berlanti executive producing.
Written by Berlanti and Doran from a story the duo co-wrote with Robbie Rogers, How To Survive Without Me is set in the wake of matriarch Beverly’s passing. The De Angelis family has begun to drift, unsure how to manage their complicated, evolving lives without her guidance, but in true Beverly fashion, she found a way to keep running the show from the beyond. Should they wish to experience Beverly’s final work, the family must find the time — and make the effort — to remain connected, and be there for each other through all of life’s challenges yet to come.
Cuoco will play Kate, the eldest daughter who inherited her mother’s perfectionism, elegance, and organizational prowess. Balancing her own marriage and motherhood, along with a full-time job as an interior designer, Kate presents an immaculate image to the world — but her perfect facade masks deeper wounds she’s never fully addressed. Jackson plays another sibling, Cooper. Romano plays the family patriarch.
“Kaley Cuoco is an inspired choice for Kate,” said Sarah Aubrey, Head of Max Original Programming. “With her incredible range, she is a perfect fit for the role. Her previous work with Greg Berlanti on The Flight Attendant showed us the magic of their creative partnership, and we’re excited to see them reunite and capture that spark again.”
Doran executive produces alongside Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman and Rogers via Berlanti Productions and its overall deal with Warner Bros. TV.
Cuoco has a long history at WBTV and has had a deal at the studio, which is behind her CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory as well as The Flight Attendant and the animated Harley Quinn, both produced by Cuoco’s Yes, Norman banner. Harley Quinn originated on DC Universe before transitioning to HBO Max in Season 3.
“Kaley has such a rich legacy at WBTV, and we’re excited to collaborate with her once again on How To Survive Without Me,” said Clancy Collins White, President, Creative Affairs, Warner Bros. Television. “She has a natural charm and a remarkable talent for turning roles into unforgettable characters, and we can’t wait to see her powerhouse performance alongside Ray and Joshua in this deeply moving story from Greg and Bash.”
Like Romano has done following the end of his hit CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, Cuoco too has worked largely in drama since the 2019 end of the hugely popular The Big Bang Theory. In addition to The Flight Attendant, she starred in the Peacock series Based On a True Story and, most recently, in MGM+’s four-part thriller miniseries Vanished. Cuoco is repped by SDB Partners, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and John Meigs at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.
