Oscar-winning actor Benicio Del Toro is stepping into new territory. The 59-year-old star, known for intense dramatic roles in films like Traffic and Sicario, has signed on for his first leading role in a television comedy series. He will star opposite Ben Stiller in Apple TV’s upcoming comedy series Protective Custody.
The project brings the two actors back together for the first time since their work on the 2018 Showtime limited series Escape at Dannemora. That series, which Stiller directed and Del Toro starred in, earned both actors Emmy nominations for their work.
Apple TV confirmed the casting news through a social media post, generating buzz among fans of both actors. The streaming platform originally announced the series in May 2026 with Stiller attached to star and executive produce.
What Is ‘Protective Custody’ About?
Protective Custody follows a disgraced financier who gets caught up in a massive fraud case. The character ends up thrown into protective custody while awaiting trial. Once inside, he must learn to handle prison politics, work on fixing his damaged reputation, and face the results of his past actions.
The show “will follow a disgraced financier accused of massive fraud who is thrown into protective custody, where he must navigate prison politics, salvage his reputation, and confront the consequences of his actions while awaiting trial.”
The series mixes comedy with the harsh realities of prison life. Reports describe it as a blend of Hogan’s Heroes and The Office.
Apple has not yet revealed which character Del Toro will play or what his exact role in the story will be. The financier role was originally announced for Stiller, but it remains unclear whether Stiller or Del Toro will play that character.
A Reunion Years in the Making
Del Toro and Stiller previously worked together on Escape at Dannemora, a prison break drama based on real events. Del Toro played convicted murderer Richard Matt in that series, while Stiller served as director and executive producer.
That collaboration happened over seven years ago. Both actors received Emmy nominations for their contributions to the show.
Now they are reuniting, but this time with a different tone. Instead of a dramatic prison story, they are working on a comedy set in a similar world. The shift marks a new direction for Del Toro, who has built his career on serious, often dark roles.
The Creative Team Behind the Series
Protective Custody comes from a strong creative team with deep comedy experience. Mike Judge, Steve Hely, and Dave King are co-writing, co-showrunning, and executive producing the series. Judge, known for creating King of the Hill and Silicon Valley, will also direct.
Hely has worked on Veep and Common Side Effects. King has credits on Parks and Recreation. The three previously worked together on the series Common Side Effects.
Ben Stiller serves as an executive producer through his production company Red Hour. Other executive producers include John Lesher, Ben Silverman, Howard Owens, Rodney Ferrell, Michael Rotenberg, Oly Obst, and Nanette Burstein.
Production companies involved include Apple Studios, Red Hour, Propagate Content, and 3 Arts Entertainment.
A First for Del Toro in Comedy
This project marks a significant milestone in Del Toro’s career. While he has appeared in television projects before, Protective Custody will be his first time leading a comedy series.
Del Toro is a three-time Academy Award nominee. He won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Traffic in 2001. He also received Golden Globe nominations for Traffic and One Battle After Another.
His most recent film appearance was in One Battle After Another, released in 2025. That role earned him another Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Other notable films in his career include The Usual Suspects, 21 Grams, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch and The Phoenician Scheme, and the Sicario films.
Stiller’s Growing Relationship with Apple TV
Protective Custody adds to Ben Stiller’s growing list of projects with Apple TV. He already works with the platform on the hit series Severance. He also produced the documentary Stiller & Meara: Nothing Is Lost and the feature comedy The Dink.
Stiller also has another Apple TV project in the works called The Off Weeks, a limited series where he stars opposite Jessica Chastain.
For Protective Custody, Stiller takes on a dual role as both star and executive producer.
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What Viewers Can Expect
Apple TV has not yet announced a release date for Protective Custody. The series is currently listed in pre-production on IMDb. The total number of episodes has also not been confirmed.
The streaming platform has several other projects scheduled for release in the coming months, including Nocturne in October, Way of the Warrior Kid in November, and Brothers in September.
Fans of both actors will have to wait for more details about the series, including full cast announcements and a premiere date. The character names for Del Toro and Stiller have not been revealed yet, leaving viewers to guess about their roles in the story.
Given the talent involved—an Oscar-winning actor, a comedy veteran, and a team of experienced comedy writers—Protective Custody has already drawn attention as one of Apple TV’s upcoming high-profile series.
Also Read: Jason Sudeikis Turned Down Ted Lasso Season 4 at First Despite Million-Dollar Offer
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