The hit Broadway satire Oh, Mary!, which humorously explores the supposed unhappiness of Mary Todd Lincoln in the weeks leading up to President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, is headed to HBO. The television special will feature the play’s writer and original star, Cole Escola, in the role of Lincoln, alongside Giles Terera as “Mary’s Husband,” with Bianca Leigh, Tony Macht, and Michael Urie also starring. Sam Pinkleton, the original director, oversaw the production filmed in London this July. The special is scheduled to air in 2027.
A teaser for the production showcases Escola in full Mary Todd Lincoln attire arriving at HBO’s offices. In the scene, a receptionist—played by Sarah Jessica Parker—offers water, while Cynthia Nixon stands nearby holding a tray, all set to music evoking Sex and the City. When Parker remarks, “That will be nice to have around,” Escola’s character responds, “No, I wouldn’t.”
Escola expressed excitement about the adaptation, stating, “I’m thrilled to share this show with a wider audience and spread awareness of Oh, Mary!. Understanding it is the first step toward moving past it.”
Pinkleton reflected, “My love for theater began with repeated viewings of Cats and Into the Woods on VHS, and I’m honored to continue that legacy with Oh, Mary! on HBO. Guiding this production through its many iterations has been an ecstatic experience, and I’m giddy that Cole Escola’s genius will now be immortalized for audiences everywhere.”
Oh, Mary! debuted off-Broadway in January 2024 and transferred to Broadway that July. The production earned Tony Awards for Escola’s acting and Pinkleton’s directing, as well as the Olivier Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play. Escola made history as the first nonbinary person to win a Tony in the acting category. In a 2024 interview with Rolling Stone, Escola addressed misconceptions, saying, “It always bothered me when people thought the joke was that I was playing a woman. I never saw myself as a boy mocking women; they were my friends and who I wanted to be.”
