Variety and TVLine: Joshua Jackson Says He Colored His Hair to Look Younger for His Next Role

Joshua Jackson says his new HBO Max series marks a personal first: it is the first time he has had to color his hair to look younger for a role. Jackson told Variety's Marc Malkin on Thursday at the Airbnb.org Gala in Los Angeles that the request came during work on How to Survive Without Me, a family drama from Greg Berlanti.

"This is how I know I'm getting old, for the first time, they're like, 'Hmm, I don't know,'" Jackson said, according to Variety's report published October 31. "And from Greg, too! I've known him since I was literally a child. We were both kids."

A Reunion Nearly Three Decades in the Making

The comment carries some history. Jackson first worked with Berlanti on Dawson's Creek, starting in 1998, Variety noted. TVLine has reported that the new role reunites Jackson with Berlanti, who wrote and executive produced that series.

How to Survive Without Me was co-created by Berlanti and his husband, Robbie Rogers, along with Bash Doran. Deadline reported in September that it is the first show the married couple have co-created together, and that the pilot was written by Berlanti and Doran with a story by Berlanti, Doran and Rogers. Variety reported that the series was inspired by their own family experiences.

What the Series Is About

Jackson laid out the premise for Variety. "The show starts six months after the matriarch of this large family has passed away, and because she was the glue that held this family together, she writes a book for her children that they can only read when they're together," he said. "So from beyond the grave she reaches out to her five adult children and her husband to make sure that the family stays together."

Rita Wilson plays the matriarch, Beverly, as a series regular. Ray Romano plays her widower, Leo, and Kaley Cuoco and Jackson play their children, Kate and Cooper, according to Variety.

TVLine described Jackson's character, Cooper, as a chef on the verge of starting a major new business who is outwardly confident but hiding a secret that could bring it all down. Cuoco's Kate, per TVLine, inherited her mother's perfectionism and works as an interior designer while balancing marriage and motherhood.

The cast also includes Julia Schlaepfer, Jack Ball, Kylar Miranda, Julian Grey, Scarlett Abinante, Tommy Dewey, Matthew Kellison, Colette Porch and Ella Rubin as series regulars, Variety reported in September.

Jackson's Tease

Jackson also hinted that the drama will not be entirely gentle. "And then it's HBO, so it's sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll," he told Variety. He joked that he is getting too old for it and said he has to keep it together.

"I hope this show's on for a couple of years, but if the pilot and the first couple of episodes are anything to judge by," he added, patting his stomach, according to Malkin, "I gotta really stay on top of things."

What Is Confirmed So Far

HBO Max gave the series a 15 episode order in September, according to Variety, Deadline and TVLine. Deadline reported that the order is part of HBO Max's strategy to follow the model of its Emmy winning medical drama The Pitt, with a modest budget and yearly release. The studio is Warner Bros. Television.

At the time of the series order, Sarah Aubrey, head of Max original programming, said in a statement quoted by Deadline: "Ray Romano, Kaley Cuoco, Joshua Jackson, and Rita Wilson lead a dream cast perfect for this emotional, extraordinary story."

What is not yet known is a premiere date. TVLine said there was no word on a release timetable when the order was announced, and Jackson's comments to Variety did not include one. Plot details beyond the official logline and the character descriptions also remain limited.

Why the Moment Stands Out

For viewers who grew up with Dawson's Creek, the pairing of Jackson and Berlanti is a notable return to a creative partnership that began when both were young. Jackson's light remark about hair color is a small detail, but it captures the passage of time between those two projects in a way fans are likely to recognize.

For now, the confirmed picture is this: a 15 episode family drama is in the works at HBO Max, Jackson is playing a son with a secret, and the creator who helped make him famous is guiding the show. HBO Max has not announced when audiences will see it.