The Scorsese/Jagger HBO Show 'Vinyl' Looks Committed to Authenticity

Martin Scorsese is returning to television. Most recently, he executive produced HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and directed the show’s premiere episode. Now, he’s back with HBO to do the same for Vinyl, a “ride through the sex- and drug-addled music business at the dawn of punk, disco, and hip-hop” set in 1970s New York, per the show’s website. Mick Jagger and Terence Winter (also of Boardwalk Empire) are executive producing the show, as well. They’ve released a teaser on Instagram:

So far, we know that Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire, Blue Jasmine, Ant-Man) stars as Richie Finestra, the president of fictional label American Century Records, and that he has to save his company (and his soul, apparently). The site also teases Olivia Wilde and Ray Romano as series regulars. IMDB confirms 2014 The Hollywood Reporter articles that Wilde will play Finestra’s wife, Devon, a 1960s New York Bohemian model and actress, and that Romano will play Finestra’s closest friend, Zak Yankovich. More recently, Entertainment Tonight snapped photos of Jagger’s son, James, confirming his role as Kip Stevens, the lead singer of the Nasty Bits.

Scorsese et al. have also been going around New York recreating historic venues. Even if the characters, bands, and labels are fictional, the world they’ll exist in, it seems, will not be. In July, Brooklyn Vegan noted that Williamsburg’s Rough Trade record shop was transformed into Sam Goody, an old record shop. Then, last week, Gothamist spotted a recreation of the ‘70s club Max’s Kansas City in Manhattan.

There’s really no telling what Vinyl will be, but with its Romano-studded cast, superstar lineup of producers, and commitment to authenticity, it’s primed to be a hit.