Netflix has announced its latest series, The Corps, which will feature the legendary Norman Lear as one of its executive producers. The streaming giant has ordered 10 episodes of the drama, which will follow the life of Cameron Cope (played by Miles Heizer), a gay teenager who joins the U.S. Marine Corps in the pre-Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell era.
The series, which is inspired by Greg Cope White’s memoir The Pink Marine, is set in 1990 and revolves around Cameron, a bullied gay teen who enlists in the Marines alongside his straight best friend, Ray McCaffey (portrayed by Liam Oh). At that time, being gay in the military could lead to severe consequences, including imprisonment or worse. The Corps is produced by Sony Pictures Television and Lear’s Sony-based Act III Productions.
Vera Farmiga stars as Cameron’s mother, while Max Parker plays a Marine sergeant who sees himself in Cameron. The talented ensemble cast also features Cedrick Cooper, Ana Ayora, Angus O’Brien, Dominic Goodman, Kieron Moore, Nicholas Logan, Rico Paris, Blake Burt, Logan Gould, Zach Roerig, Johnathan Nieves, Brandon Tyler Moore, Ivan Hoey Jr., Anthony Marble, and Joy Osmanski.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, this is yet another project for the centenarian Lear, whose Act III has Clean Slate at Amazon’s Freevee and an animated update of his 1970s sitcom Good Times, set to release later this year on Netflix. Lear has also been an executive producer for the Netflix/Pop TV remake of his classic show, One Day at a Time.
Andy Parker, who previously worked on Netflix’s 2019 Tales of the City, adapted White’s memoir for the screen and will serve as the showrunner. He will also be an executive producer, along with Lear, Brent Miller of Act III, Rachel Davidson, and Scott Hornbacher. Peter Hoar, known for his work on The Last of Us, will direct and executive produce the first episode. Meanwhile, Greg Cope White, the author of the original memoir, will be a writer and producer for the series.
