Ben Stiller takes on prison policy in Protective Custody for Apple TV

Published on May 23, 2026 | Translated from Spanish

Actor Ben Stiller will take on his first leading role in a comedy series for Apple TV. The series, titled Protective Custody, is created by Mike Judge, Steve Hely, and Dave King. It is described as a mix between Hogan's Heroes and The Office. Stiller plays a financier accused of massive fraud who is sent to protective custody while awaiting trial.

Ben Stiller as a suited financier in a sterile prison office, nervously adjusting his tie while surrounded by filing cabinets and a clunky desktop computer, a bored guard watching from behind reinforced glass, another inmate playing solitaire on a tablet, fluorescent lights flickering overhead, comedic tension in the air, cinematic photorealistic style, warm artificial lighting contrasting with cold metal furniture, ultra-detailed textures on polyester uniform and plastic keyboards, wide-angle lens distortion emphasizing cramped institutional space

Apple TV bets on high-stakes prison comedy 🎬

The series is developed under the executive production of Mike Judge, known for Silicon Valley and King of the Hill, alongside Steve Hely and Dave King. The project explores the power dynamics within a protective custody prison. Stiller will have to navigate the unwritten rules of the prison system while dealing with the consequences of his financial actions. No release date has been confirmed yet.

From finance to alphabet soup: Stiller's new gig 😅

It seems Stiller went from being the model in Zoolander to a financier who needs a lawyer and a good prison survival manual. The premise suggests that board meetings will be replaced by discussions about who gets the top bunk. We'll see if his character negotiates a financial bailout or an extra serving of mashed potatoes.