Benicio Del Toro joins Ben Stiller in TV+ Protective Custody

Oscar-winning actor Benicio Del Toro has been cast in a lead role opposite Ben Stiller in the upcoming Apple TV+ comedy series "Protective Custody," marking Del Toro's first leading role in a television comedy. The series, announced on July 22, 2026, is created by a trio of veteran comedy writers and producers: Mike Judge, Steve Hely, and Dave King.

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. Specific details regarding which actor will play the financier and Del Toro's character are being kept under wraps.

The project reunites Del Toro and Stiller, who previously collaborated on the critically acclaimed 2018 Showtime limited series "Escape at Dannemora." For that project, Del Toro starred as convicted murderer Richard Matt and Stiller served as director and executive producer; both received Emmy nominations for their work. "Protective Custody" also reunites the creative team of Judge, Hely, and King, who last worked together on the 2025 series "Common Side Effects."