Crackle Taps Martin Freeman, Adam Brody for New Scripted Series

Streaming over-the-top service Crackle will develop its second scripted series, Start Up, later this year, the company said Wednesday.

The 10-episode, technology-themed drama stars Adam Brody (CHiPS, The League) as Nick Talman who – trying to hide his father’s illegally earned financial fortune from the FBI and from local gangs – invests in a tech startup, and Martin Freeman (Fargo, Sherlock) as an FBI agent who is investigating Talman.

The series follows Crackle’s first scripted series, The Art Of More, which launched this past November.

Start Up carries out our promise to continue our commitment to quality drama,” said Eric Berger, general manager of Crackle and executive vice president of Sony Pictures Television Digital Networks. “We are working with a top-notch team to produce a project that explores the motivations and complexities of creating a new venture, while walking a fine line between crime and legitimacy.”

Start Up is produced by Critical Content and Hollywood Gang Productions, with Tom Forman, Andrew Marcus, Ray Ricord, Gianni Nunnari and Shannon Gaulding all serving as executive producers.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.