Former "The Office" star Anthony Q. Farrell has embarked on a new venture, signing on as the showrunner and executive producer of the indie, uplifting cricket comedy "Strikers." Fresh off wrapping up production on his latest comedy, "Hate the Player," for Paramount+/GameTV, Farrell joins "Strikers" amid anticipation for a summer 2026 production start and potential global TV exposure, particularly in South Asia, as cricket prepares for its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
"Strikers" is brainchild of Dana Abraham, the Red Hill Creative founder behind credits such as "Orphan Black: Echoes" and "Neon Lights," along with Emmy-winner and "Queer Eye" host Bobby Berk. Abraham will also don the acting hat, portraying Amar Farooqi, a former baseball MVP hopeful whose career implodes following an injury.
With his future uncertain, Farooqi's manager Micky (played by Berk) secures him a gig with a struggling professional cricket club yearning for a triumphant comeback narrative to boost ticket sales. Based in Toronto, Farrell is no stranger to the intricacies of cricket, a bat-and-ball sport akin to baseball that thrives outside North America, notably as a billion-dollar TV entertainment behemoth through the Indian Premier League.
"Having grown up on the picturesque island of St. Kitts, I grasped a cricket bat long before I dabbled in baseball. The sport has evolved and flourished tremendously over the past quarter-century, and a series like 'Strikers' is long overdue. I'm thrilled to collaborate with Dana and Bobby on this side-splitting yet heartfelt show they've conceived," Farrell expressed in a statement.
Further casting announcements will be made in due course.
Abraham and Berk added in a joint statement, "It's an immense honor to welcome Anthony to 'Strikers.' His storied resume speaks volumes, but it's his knack for executing at the pinnacle while infusing every tale with heart and humor that makes him the ideal fit for our series."
Range Media and WME are actively pitching "Strikers" to international buyers, seeking initial broadcast and streaming partners to license the series ahead of production. Additional territories will be sold once the series is completed.
Farrell is represented by Sheree Guitar Entertainment, Ambition Talent, and Lichter Grossman Nichols Feldman Rogal Shikora & Clark.
