‘Captain Marvel’ Star Brie Larson Signs on with Apple to Star in and Produce New CIA Drama Series

Brie Larson Credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock
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As Apple inches closer to the expected debut of its video streaming service later this month, the company’s momentum isn’t slowing down in terms of continuing to make deals for even more original content, now reportedly adding “Captain Marvel” herself, Brie Larson, to its staple of star talent as part of another upcoming project.

According to Variety, Larson has signed on to both star in and executive produce a new drama series at Apple that will be based on the real life experiences of an undercover CIA operative. The series, which does not yet have a title, is described as following a young woman’s journey as a member of the CIA, viewed through the lens of her closest relationships. The foundation for the series is a new memoir by Amaryllis Fox, “Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA” which is expected to be published this fall.

The announcement of the new series comes at a high point for Larson’s career, with her new Captain Marvel film expected to premier this Friday to enthusiastic audiences, allowing Apple’s new video streaming service to bask in the halo effect. Larson is best known for her work on the big screen, including not only her upcoming appearance in Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame but also her prior award-winning role in the 2015 film Room, along with Kong: Skull Island, The Spectacular Now, 21 Jump Street, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. However, the actress has previously taken on a few other regular TV roles, including United States of Tara and Raising Dad.

Apple has been driving hard into signing original content deals since bringing Sony executives Jamie Ehrlicht and Zack Van Amburg on board two years ago. The company’s first big coup, an original morning show drama starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, was also set up by the same group behind the new Larson CIA drama — Michael Ellenberg and Media Res, which acquired the rights to Amaryllis Fox’s book and life before bringing the project to Apple.

Although Apple’s production efforts have not been without struggles. Even despite Ehrlicht and Van Amburg being the driving forces behind Breaking Bad, Apple has insisted on family-friendly content for most, if not all of its initial programming, resulting in some friction with Hollywood producers as senior executives, including Tim Cook himself, take active roles in directing Apple’s vision for its content productions. More recent deals, however, have suggested that Apple is willing to explore at least some more risqué content, with the company said to be in talks late last year to purchase the rights to a mature and violent Israeli drama.

Apple is expected to unveil its new video streaming service at a March 25 event that will likely see a red carpet of Hollywood VIPs in attendance for the announcement, such as Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner, and director J.J. Abrams — all of whom are also actively involved in various productions at Apple, of course. While details about the video streaming service itself remain vague, most reports suggest that Apple plans to make at least some of its original video content available for free — to Apple device users, at least — while also bundling in a premium subscription plan that would include a collection of other streaming services. It’s also unclear when the service itself will actually begin rolling out.

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