J.K. Simmons lands role alongside Will Poulter in Beat the Reaper

J.K. Simmons is joining Will Poulter in Apple TV’s new crime series Beat the Reaper.

Simmons will play Dr. Friendly, a surgeon who works at the same Boston hospital as Poulter’s character, Dr. Peter Brown.

His character is described as an incompetent doctor who works alongside Peter.

The story is about Peter, a young doctor working at one of the hardest hospitals in Boston.

But behind his life as a doctor, Peter is hiding a past that he does not want anyone to know about.

His life takes a sudden turn when one of his patients recognises him from that past.

Peter is then forced to run as government agents and mob hitmen begin coming after him.

The series is based on Josh Bazell’s novel of the same name. Sam Catlin is working as the showrunner and executive producer.

Tim Van Patten will direct the first episode. He has worked on shows including The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire and Black Mirror.

Simmons is known for his Oscar winning role in Whiplash, where he played Terence Fletcher. He later received another Oscar nomination for Being the Ricardos.

Beat the Reaper is being made by Apple Studios and New Regency. The series does not have a release date yet.