The Roman: Oscar Isaac & Scorsese's Netflix Vegas Drama

The Roman: Oscar Isaac & Scorsese's Netflix Vegas Drama

Netflix's upcoming Las Vegas drama The Roman just got significantly more interesting. Five new cast members — Vincent D'Onofrio (Daredevil: Born Again), Kate Mara (A Teacher), Clancy Brown (The Penguin), Thomas Sadoski (The Newsroom), and Jason Schwartzman (Fantastic Mr. Fox) — have joined the series, adding serious depth to an already formidable ensemble fronted by Oscar Isaac and executive produced by Martin Scorsese.

Here's everything we know about what's shaping up to be one of Netflix's most anticipated drama series in development.

Who's Behind The Roman

The series comes from creators, showrunners, and executive producers Brian Koppelman and David Levien, the powerhouse duo behind Showtime's long-running drama Billions and the cult poker classic Rounders. Their Vegas storytelling credentials run deep — they made their screenwriting debut with the poker thriller Rounders and later wrote the Vegas-set heist film Ocean's Thirteen. Koppelman and Levien understand casino-world narratives at a cellular level, and The Roman looks like the culmination of everything they've been building toward.

Adding serious weight to the production is Martin Scorsese, who serves as an executive producer. The legendary filmmaker explored similar territory in his 1995 classic Casino, which remains one of the definitive portraits of Las Vegas on screen. Scorsese also executive produced HBO's Boardwalk Empire, the Prohibition-era drama set in Atlantic City. His involvement signals the kind of prestige treatment Netflix is aiming for with this series.

J.C. Chandor, who previously directed Isaac in Triple Frontier and A Most Violent Year, will direct the first two episodes. Chandor's track record with tense, character-driven stories makes him an inspired choice to establish the show's visual language and tone.

What to Expect

The Roman is an eight-episode hour-long drama set in the high-stakes, sharp-elbowed present-day Las Vegas casino business. At the center stands Robert "Bobby Red" Redman, president of the hottest hotel casino in town, who must make long-odds moves to secure his position and take more ground. The series promises a mix of power plays, complicated relationships, and the dangerous edge that still defines Sin City beneath its polished modern surface.

The Cast

The ensemble is genuinely stacked. Betty Gilpin (GLOW) plays Marla Blake, Bobby's formidable wife and a brilliant, highly connected lawyer who navigates the city's darkest corridors as well as her husband does. Alec Baldwin takes on the role of Paul "Primo" Clark, a legendary business technician and surrogate father figure who isn't afraid to let his protégés compete for his favor. David Costabile (Billions, Breaking Bad) portrays Bill Saverick, the operator of a rival casino who finds himself caught between loyalty and business.

The newly announced additions bring even more firepower. Vincent D'Onofrio plays Dominic Ward, a powerful MMA mogul who uses his influence to manipulate casino bosses. Kate Mara portrays Holly Reeve, a sultry entrepreneur running the city's most exclusive empire — with a deep, complicated history with Bobby. Clancy Brown brings his signature gravitas as Elwood, a weathered figure with ties to the desert landscape and knowledge of where the city's secrets are buried. Thomas Sadoski is Chef Luca, a brilliant but self-destructive superstar chef, while Jason Schwartzman guest stars as David Krupp, a clean-cut heir drowning in mounting casino debts.

Shalom Brune-Franklin (Dune: Prophecy) and Jimmy O. Yang (Interior Chinatown) complete the principal cast, ensuring depth at every level of the ensemble.

When and Where to Watch

The Roman will premiere on Netflix as an eight-episode series. An official release date has not been set yet, but with cameras expected to begin rolling in July 2026, an early to mid-2027 release window looks probable. Koppelman and Levien previously collaborated with J.C. Chandor on Triple Frontier, which remains one of Netflix's most-watched original films, suggesting the streamer has high confidence in this creative team.

For fans of prestige drama, sharp dialogue, and high-stakes storytelling, The Roman is one to keep firmly on your radar.