Laura Linney to Front New Showtime Series

LOS ANGELES: Laura Linney will star in and executive produce a new half-hour series for Showtime about a woman diagnosed with cancer.

Tentatively titled The C Word, the series delves into the emotional ups and downs of a suburban wife and mother who is dealing with her cancer diagnosis. The series is created and written by Darlene Hunt, who will serve as executive producer, along with Neal H. Moritz and Vivian Cannon. It will be produced by Original Film in association with Sony Pictures Television.

"Laura Linney is in that rare echelon of truly gifted actresses who fully embody the characters they play and we are honored to welcome her to Showtime," said Robert Greenblatt, the president of entertainment for Showtime Networks. "Cancer is not usually the subject of half-hour comedy, but Laura saw what we did in this complex show—a woman who gets a wake-up call that causes her to shake up her life and family. She will no doubt make this character both heartbreaking and disarmingly funny, and we’re thrilled that she has chosen this show for her foray into series television."

"How one lives fully while being tested by the unpredictability of life, and what one learns in the process, is always filled with endless possibilities for an actor," commented Linney. "I am very excited to tackle such potentially rich, funny and complicated material."