Michelle Monaghan (True Detective, The White Lotus, Trucker) will star in a new hockey eight-episode series from creator Nick Naveda (Words on Bathroom Walls, My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward) and showrunner and executive producer Bridget Bedard (Love Life, Ramy, Transparent).
Monaghan plays Harper Sullivan, an unlikely hockey coach who’s tasked with resurrecting the team from the brink of defeat, and bringing South Dorothy back to life.
The series takes place in the small working-class town of South Dorothy, Minnesota, where the high school hockey team has been churning out state championships and NHL stars for decades with their legendary Coach “Sully” Sullivan at the helm. When a bus crash claims the lives of several players and Sully himself, the town looks to Harper Sullivan — Coach Sully’s widow — to coach a new team of battered and broken young men. What unfolds is the hopeful and unforgettable story of an underdog team who comes together to galvanize their town, reclaim their way of life, and turn their shared grief into an unstoppable superpower.
The series hails from Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps production company, following hits like Stranger Things, All the Light We Cannot See, The Perfect Couple, and The Adam Project.
“I’ve carried South Dorothy and its people in my heart for as long as I can remember,” says Naveda. “To finally bring that world to life with my Grizzly family at 21 Laps and Netflix is nothing short of a dream come true. Big love and gratitude to my partners for this opportunity, and for all their unyielding support over the years.”
Levy, Dan Levine (Arrival, All the Light We Cannot See, Shadow and Bone), and Robert Atwood (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) will executive produce for 21 Laps. Moera Ainai (The Perfect Couple) serves as a producer. Executive producer and director Trey Edward Shults (It Comes At Night, Waves, Krisha) will helm the series’ first two episodes.
“This show has long been a 21 Laps favorite and one of the best pieces we have had the privilege of developing and supporting,” says Levy. “Nick and Bridget have built a world and ensemble of characters that are rooted in authenticity and huge heart which, not surprisingly, attracted such great talent with our director Trey Edward Shults and lead Michelle Monaghan. With its visceral sports backdrop and a story grounded in deep humanity, we cannot wait to bring this show to a global audience.”
