Minnie Driver is the latest actor to join NBC’s Peter Pan Live!, according to Deadline. While Driver is a singer who’s released several albums, it doesn’t look like she’ll be doing any of that for the live broadcast. Instead, the About A Boy star will take on the newly expanded role of Wendy. The stage show ends with a scene in which Peter Pan returns to collect Wendy for another flight to Neverland, only to discover she’s grown up and now has a daughter of her own. Generally the same actress who plays young Wendy also portrays older Wendy, but producers thought perhaps 23-year-old Taylor Louderman looked too young for both roles. So now Driver will play the adult Wendy, while also serving as a narrator throughout the show.
NBC chairman Robert Greenblatt called Driver “a classy addition to our wonderful cast.” It presumably helps that Driver is already in the NBC family, and her appearance will give the network an excuse to plug About A Boy, which has been struggling in the ratings. Plus she’ll lend an air of British authenticity to a show otherwise full of American actors, including Allison Williams as Peter Pan, Christopher Walken as Captain Hook, Kelli O’Hara as Mrs. Darling, and Christian Borle as Smee/Mr. Darling. Peter Pan Live! is set to air December 4 at 8 p.m. ET.