If you like a film or TV series that makes you wonder, the entire time you’re watching it, whether the actress or actor billed as the lead is really the person
you’re seeing onscreen, Pam and Tommy is for you. On Friday, May 7, Hulu released first-look photos of its upcoming limited series about former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson and Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, starring Lily James and Sebastian Stan as the couple in question.
These photos will absolutely shock you; James and Stan completely disappear, and all you see is Anderson and Lee.
“Here’s a peek at #PamAndTommy, ” the streamer’s Instagram announced. “Based on the true scandal that started it all, featuring Seth Rogen, Lily James and Sebastian Stan… ready to rewind?”
A comparison shot for you:
Here is James, solo, as Anderson:
The series will be eight episodes and is shooting right now. The project is produced by Robert Siegel and DV DeVincentis, who are also co-showrunners. Seth Rogen will executive produce with Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, and Alex McAtee for Point Grey. Dave Franco, Megan Ellison, Sue Naegle, and Ali Krug will be EPs. Anderson and Lee themselves are not involved in the project, per Deadline.
There are a lot of big-deal names behind this project. Here’s what we know about the highly anticipated series.
It’s the true story behind the first-ever “viral sex tape.”
When Anderson and Lee were on their honeymoon in 1995, they made a sex tape, which was stolen and distributed online. This sex tape might be the most famous among celebrity sex tapes, likely because of the legal battle that followed.
The series will follow the lawsuit that Anderson and Lee filed against the distributor, Internet Entertainment Group. The suit was eventually settled, and the tape remained in the public domain.
Rogen plays Rand Gauthier, the man who stole the sex tape.
It also follows the story of their romance and marriage.
The series might be tied to the giant pop-culture reference that is the sex tape, but it also follows the general story of this celebrity love story. Anderson and Lee got married after only knowing each other for 96 hours. Deadline reports the sex tape will be one of the main focal points, but the whirlwind romance itself will also take front and center.
James and Stan seem excited to be involved.
Both shared the first-look photos on Instagram, and James shared hers with a pointed Anderson quote: “It’s great to be blonde. With low expectations it’s very easy to surprise people.”
Stan posted his own photo with the Lee quote, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”
Paparazzi captured James in Anderson’s iconic Baywatch bathing suit.
There is a controversy about the real Anderson and Lee’s lack of involvement.
Courtney Love, a friend of Anderson’s, posted a furious Facebook complaint on Friday, May 14, complaining that Pam and Tommy was exploiting a traumatic incident. The post has since been deleted.
“I find this so fucking outrageous,” Love began in her post, per People. “When Pam / Tommy sex tape was out / myself @pattyschemel @xmadmx were making a record. And the lone women in many recording studios in LA. Where all / ALL! The staff engineers / producers / owners / were watching the sex tape with huge schadenfraude.. Guffaws, It was disgusting. I banned anyone discussing it.. It destroyed my friend Pamelas life. Utterly.”
Love added that the series wanted to use her image, which she pointedly declined. “Last week I was asked to approve using a Rolling Stone cover of mine / shot by Mark Seliger in this piece of shit/ That they had approved. I said ‘fuck no.’ shocked. Gentleman don’t approve this sort of thing. My heart goes out to Pammy ♥️♥️ further causing her complex trauma. And shame on Lily James whoever the fuck she is. #vile.”
We might have to wait awhile before it comes out.
Hulu confirmed the project last December, but there is no release date yet. Hopefully this series will get the same pre-release treatment as Lady Gaga and Adam Driver’s upcoming film, House of Gucci, and we’ll get plenty more sneak peaks.