John Cameron Mitchell is going from a “Wig in a Box” to a tiger in a cage.
Since his star-making turn as Hedwig in the cult-classic musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the out actor has had roles onscreen in The Good Fight, Shrill, and Mozart in the Jungle. He also stepped behind the camera to direct Shortbus and Rabbit Hole, which starred Nicole Kidman.
Mitchell is now taking a lead role as Joe Exotic — yes, the Tiger King himself — in NBC Universal’s upcoming limited series, tentatively titled Joe Exotic. As TV Line reports, the series will focus on the same story from Netflix’s Tiger King, but it will be based on Wondery’s Joe Exotic podcast, which was released in the spring of 2020.
“I’m thrilled to take on the role of this modern folk antihero,” Mitchell said in a statement. “Joe and I are the same age and like him, I grew up queer in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas so I feel like I know a little bit about this guy and his desperate attempt to conquer an inhospitable world.”
The Hedwig actor joins Saturday Night Live veteran Kate McKinnon, who was cast as Joe’s arch-nemesis, Carole Baskin. McKinnon will also serve as an executive producer on the series.
“It’s clear that an over-the-top character like Joe needed someone very special,” Steven O’Neill, EVP of casting & talent development at UCP, said in a statement. “We are so excited to have John Cameron Mitchell, an adored icon of the LGBTQ community, take on this compelling role. His casting speaks to our ongoing vision of universal storytelling, and we can’t wait for our audiences to experience the show.”
Joe Exotic will be available on NBC, Peacock, and USA Network.