Ben Stiller is set to play the three identical TRIPLETS in a new limited series adaptation of the 2018 documentary Three Identical Strangers.
Sony Pictures Television is behind the new show, where Stiller, 57, will play Bobby Shafran, David Kellman and Eddy Galland, three identical triplets who were separated at birth and reunited as adults, according to Variety.
The project marks one of his first major acting roles in several years, coming just days after a teaser for his new Pepsi Super Bowl commercial starring Steve Martin.
The new limited series will be adapted from the 2018 documentary Three Identical Strangers, which told the true story of Bobby Shafran, David Kellman and Eddy Galland, identical triplets separated at birth and all adopted by different families.
Shafran first discovered he had these siblings he had never heard of in 1980, when he was 19, on the campus of a community college in New York, when he was frequently welcomed as fellow student, Eddy Galland.
Triplets: Ben Stiller is set to play the three identical TRIPLETS in a new limited series adaptation of the 2018 documentary Three Identical Strangers
Documentary: The new limited series will be adapted from the 2018 documentary Three Identical Strangers, which told the true story of Bobby Shafran, David Kellman and Eddy Galland, identical triplets separated at birth and all adopted by different families
They both met and realized they were both adopted and realized they were twin brothers.
Their story was widely reported when it reached David Kellman, who had a similar adoption story as they discovered the twins were actually identical triplets.
They became media darlings for a time, frequently appearing on shows like The Phil Donohue Show, and moved in together and opened a restaurant called Triplets Romanian Steakhouse.
While the adoption agency initially claimed they were separated due to difficulty finding a family to foster triplets, it was eventually revealed that they were intentionally separated and placed with different families – a worker , one middle-class, and one well-to-do — in a study that was never fully disclosed to parents.
Stiller will play the three adult triplets in the new series, which will be written by Amy Lippman (Party of Five).
Lippman will also serve as showrunner and executive producer, with Stiller executive producing through his company Red Hour Films.
Sidney Kimmel, John Penotti, Charlie Corwin and Marcy Ross of SK Global are also executive producers along with Piers Vellacott, Dimitri Doganis and Tim Wardle – who directed the documentary – of RAW and Emmeline Yang Hankins.
SK Global’s Mark O’Connor, Submarine’s Dan Braun and Josh Braun would serve as co-executive producers.
Triplets: Their story was widely reported when it reached David Kellman (middle), who had a similar adoption story as they discovered the twins were actually identical triplets.
Adoption: While the adoption agency initially claimed they were separated due to difficulty finding a family to foster triplets, it was eventually revealed that they were intentionally separated and placed with different families – one worker, one middle-class and one well-to-do – as part of a study that was never fully revealed to parents
Stiller hasn’t been doing much lately, with an uncredited appearance as himself in last year’s Bros marking his last big-screen appearance.
His last major acting roles came in 2017 with The Meyerowitz Stories and Brad’s Status although he also appeared in Hubie Halloween and Locked Down.
He recently directed episodes of Apple TV Plus’ Severance and is attached to direct the films Bag Man and London.
Cameo: Stiller hasn’t been doing much lately, with an uncredited cameo as himself in last year’s Bros marking his final big-screen appearance
Director: He recently directed episodes of Apple TV Plus’ Severance and is attached to direct the films Bag Man and London
