Kyle MacLachlan, ofTwin PeaksandDunefame, has signed on to what is soon to be 1 of 3 adaptations on the story ofTiger KingalongsideSaturday Night Live’s Kate McKinnon. That’s not a sentence most people would expect they’d write. But it’s real, andPeacock’sJoe Exoticdefinitely looking to boast some real star power.
MacLachlan will play Howard Baskin, husband of big cats activist and nemesis of Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin.McKinnon will produce the seriesand play Carole Baskin while John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Itch) will step into the role of Joe. It should be noted that Howard Baskin is Carole’s current husband who serves as chairman of the advisory board for Big Cat Rescue, rather than Don Lewis, the husband that some allege was murdered by Carole.
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News sources began reporting last year that NBC’s streaming service Peacock were putting together their own take on the story that captivated Netflix users all over, but with more of a focus on Baskin than the eccentricJoe Exotic likeTiger Kinghad. But even though the news only started to really circulate afterTiger Kingshot up in popularity, it turns out that this particular adaptation of the story has actually been in development since 2019. Unlike the Netflix series, which was a documentary itself, Peacock’sJoe Exoticwill actually be based on Wondery’sOver My Dead Bodypodcast, which focused on the Tiger King himself and his attempt at murder-for-hire in its 2nd season.
Tiger Kingtold such a compelling tale of the world of big cat conservation and collectors that apparently the world was instantly hungry for more. As a result, the Peacock series picked up steam and Amazon Prime obtained an upcoming series starring none other thanNicolas Cage as Joe Exotic. Based on an article fromTexas Monthlydetailing the exotic animal collector’s life, the Cage project will apparently tell the story from yet another unique perspective.
Many likely know MacLachlan from his role as FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper onTwin Peaks, including its 3rd season in 2017. Also starring in 1984’sDuneand 1986’sBlue Velvet, he earned a reputation as a long-time collaborator withtruly unique filmmaker David Lynch. But he’s shown plenty of more mainstream appeal as well, earning plenty of awards nominations over the years. That’s not to say Lynch isn’t mainstream, but he’s certainly got a style all his own.
With all 3 of these retellings in the wild, the world will soon have all the information they could ever need about Joe Exotic and perhaps a touch extra. If nothing else, it will drive home why true crime podcasts seem to be enjoying their own little heyday right now.
