Apple TV+ adds Matt Dillon, Bernadette Peters, others to 'High Desert' cast

Ordered by Apple in 2020, the half-hour series stars Patricia Arquette as Peggy, a former addict who decides to make a new start as a private investigator following the death of her mother.

After months in development, the show's cast is coming together with Matt Dillon ("Crash"), Bernadette Peters ("Mozart in the Jungle"), Christine Taylor ("Zoolander"), Rupert Friend ("Homeland," "Death of Stalin"), Brad Garrett ("Everybody Loves Raymond") and Weruche Opia ("I May Destroy You") set to star alongside Arquette, reports Variety.

Dillon will play Peggy's ex, Denny, a charming parolee and relentless operator, while Friend is cast as Guru Bob, a former anchorman who rebrands himself as a mystic after experiencing life-altering trauma. Garrett is set to star as Bruce, a private investigator who hires Peggy to work at his declining business.

Opia's character, Carol, appears to be the most fleshed out of the new batch. Carol is Peggy's closest friend and the bored fiance of an ER doctor. She is also a new stepmother who "has a secret of her own," according to the report.

Peters will play a recurring role as Rosalyn, Peggy's mother, and Taylor will also recur as Peggy's sister, Diane.

Show creators Nancy Fichman and Katie Ford serve as writers alongside Jennifer Hoppe. All three will executive produce with Arquette and Jay Roach, who is on board to direct all eight episodes. Ben Stiller is also executive producing with Nicky Weinstock and Jackie Cohn through Red Hour Films.

"High Desert" marks the third recent collaboration between Arquette and Stiller, who previously found success in the critically acclaimed Showtime limited series "Escape at Dannemora." The duo is also working on a drama series for Apple TV+ called "Severance."

The Arquette vehicle will join a slate of Apple TV+ original series that includes "Invasion," "The Mosquito Coast," "Losing Alice," "See" and "The Morning Show," among others.