‘Dopesick’ Creator Danny Strong On Taking On Big Pharma, Plus Why He Can’t Resist Tackling Controversial True Stories – Behind The Lens

A new season of my Deadline video series Behind the Lens begins today with my conversation with Danny Strong, a writer, director, producer and actor who has become one of the most prolific creators in television. His current limited series for Hulu, Dopesick, is heavily buzzed for Emmy attention and has already brought him a DGA nomination and a USC Scripter win. Its star Michael Keaton took home the SAG Award earlier this year.

The eight-part series centers the big pharma lie that got America addicted to opioids, as well as Richard Sackler and Purdue Pharma which were largely responsible. Strong navigates the tale from there, swinging from small towns to the DEA and more in a harrowing portrait of addiction and those behind it.

Strong won two Emmys as writer and producer of the HBO movie Game Change, which chronicled Sarah Palin’s run for Vice President. He also was nominated for writing HBO’s movie Recount, about the Bush v Gore election debacle, and was a key creative force behind Fox’s series Empire. For the big screen, Strong wrote both parts of The Hunger Games Mockingjay, Lee Daniels’ The Butler and Rebel in the Rye the latter which he also directed.

He actually started as an actor and has 50 credits including his continuing role as Todd Krakow on Billions as well as Mad Men, The Gilmore Girls, Justified and many others.

We sat down to talk about Dopesick and go behind the lens of his multi-faceted career. To watch our conversation, click on the video above.

Join me every Monday and Friday during Emmy season for a new episode of Behind the Lens.