Kaley Cuoco has been cast in the HBO Max drama pilot How to Survive Without Me, reuniting her with executive producer Greg Berlanti from The Flight Attendant. She will star opposite Ray Romano and Joshua Jackson in the story of a family navigating life after the matriarch's passing. The series explores how the late Beverly influences her family from beyond.
Kaley Cuoco is set to star as Kate in the HBO Max pilot How to Survive Without Me, a family drama written by Greg Berlanti and Bash Doran, with a story by Berlanti, Doran, and Robbie Rogers. The project marks Cuoco's second collaboration with Berlanti at HBO Max, following her Emmy-nominated role in The Flight Attendant, which he executive produced.
The logline describes the series as following the De Angelis family "in the wake of matriarch Beverly’s passing." The family has begun to drift without her guidance, but Beverly "found a way to keep running the show from the beyond." To experience her final work, they must remain connected through life's challenges.
Cuoco's character, Kate, is the eldest daughter and sister to Joshua Jackson's Cooper. She is portrayed as inheriting her mother's perfectionism, elegance, and organizational skills. As an interior designer balancing marriage, motherhood, and a full-time job, Kate maintains an immaculate public image that conceals deeper unaddressed wounds. Ray Romano plays their father, Leo.
Sarah Aubrey, head of Max Original Programming, praised the casting: “Kaley Cuoco is an inspired choice for Kate. With her incredible range, she is a perfect fit for the role. Her previous work with Greg Berlanti on ‘The Flight Attendant’ showed us the magic of their creative partnership, and we’re excited to see them reunite and capture that spark again.”
Clancy Collins White, president of creative affairs at Warner Bros. Television, added: “Kaley has such a rich legacy at WBTV, and we’re excited to collaborate with her once again on ‘How to Survive Without Me.’ She has a natural charm and a remarkable talent for turning roles into unforgettable characters, and we can’t wait to see her powerhouse performance alongside Ray and Joshua in this deeply moving story from Greg and Bash.”
Executive producers include Berlanti, Doran, Rogers, Sarah Schechter, and Leigh London Redman of Berlanti Productions, with Warner Bros. Television as the studio. Cuoco, known for The Big Bang Theory, also appears in Harley Quinn, Based on a True Story, and Vanished.
