How To Survive Without Me is moving ahead at HBO Max, with the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streamer giving a 15-episode series order to the family drama from Greg Berlanti.
The series stars Ray Romano, Kaley Cuoco and Joshua Jackson, and comes from Warner Bros. Television. The pickup follows the project’s pilot order last November and arrives after its prospects improved in March when it was awarded tax credits from the California Tax Commission. Before issuing the final greenlight, HBO Max asked Berlanti for two back-up scripts.
The order also fits into HBO Max’s stated strategy of pursuing a model similar to its Emmy-winning medical drama The Pitt: modestly budgeted series designed for yearly release, in a way that is somewhat akin to the old broadcast model.
The pilot was written by Berlanti and Bash Doran, from a story by Berlanti, Doran and Robbie Rogers. The project marks the first show co-created by Berlanti and Rogers, who are married.
How To Survive Without Me centers on the De Angelis family following the death of matriarch Beverly. In the aftermath, the family has started to drift as its members try to navigate complicated and changing lives without her guidance. But Beverly has left behind a way to continue shaping their lives: if the family wants to experience her final work, they must make the time and effort to stay connected and support one another through what lies ahead.
Romano plays the family patriarch, while Rita Wilson plays Beverly, the deceased matriarch. The ensemble also includes Julia Schlaepfer, Jack Ball, Kylar Miranda, Julian Grey, Scarlett Abinante, Tommy Dewey, Matthew Kellison, Colette Porch and Ella Rubin as members of the De Angelis family.
The guest cast includes Dar Zuzovsky, Genevieve Angelson, Joe Romano, Katie Aselton, Katie Monds, Kevin Changaris, Pressley Hosbach, Richard Blackmon, Sofía Rodríguez-Toymil and Will Yun Lee.
The show has been discussed in the vein of Brothers and Sisters, which Berlanti worked on, Everwood, which Berlanti created, and Six Feet Under.
Berlanti executive produces alongside Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman and Robbie Rogers through Berlanti Productions, which has an overall deal with Warner Bros. Television. Doran, Ryan O’Connell and Daniel Minahan also executive produce, with Minahan directing.
The HBO Max order continues a busy stretch for Berlanti Productions. How To Survive Without Me marks the company’s fourth series sale in the last 12 months. The banner recently received a greenlight for horror drama Stillwater at Amazon, Afterlife with Archie landed at Disney+, and the company is making the upcoming live-action Scooby-Doo! series at Netflix.
The series was one of two drama pilots ordered by HBO Max at the same time. The other, American Blue, is not going forward at the streamer, though Warner Bros. Television is still shopping that project to other outlets.
Berlanti framed the pickup as a return to especially personal creative territory.
“The first show I ever created was a family drama, almost exactly 25 years before this one was picked up,” Berlanti said. “It’s been incredibly emotional to return to this kind of storytelling and I’m so grateful to Casey, Sarah, Joey and everyone at HBO Max for asking, to Channing, Brett and Clancy and the Warner Bros. team, and finally our brilliant cast — Ray, Kaley, Josh, Rita and the rest of our extraordinary ensemble and crew. To also co-create it with Bash and my husband, Robbie, and draw from our own families’ experiences of love and loss has made the whole show the most personal thing I’ve worked on in years.”
Sarah Aubrey, Head of Max Original Programming, praised the ensemble and the project’s creative team.
“Ray Romano, Kaley Cuoco, Joshua Jackson, and Rita Wilson lead a dream cast perfect for this emotional, extraordinary story,” Aubrey said. “We’re delighted to be in business again with Greg and our partners at Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television.”
Channing Dungey, Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Group and WBD US Networks, also welcomed the pickup.
“All of us at Warner Bros. Television are thrilled to have another new series from our brilliant partner Greg Berlanti and his team,” Dungey said. “This is an incredible cast bringing to life a deeply personal, heartfelt story—one filled with laughter, and the kind of warmth that makes it instantly relatable. We are excited to be part of this next chapter with HBO Max and can’t wait to bring this beautiful story to fruition.”