Julia Child Drama Ordered to Series at HBO Max Courtesy of Neil Marland; FilmMagic Sarah Lancashire and David Hyde Pierce star in the drama from showrunner Chris Keyser. HBO Max is moving forward with a drama focused on the life of famed chef Julia Child. The streamer on Thursday announced an eight-episode series order for Julia, starring Sarah Lancashire ( Party of Five) serves as showrunner on the drama from Lionsgate Television and 3 Arts. First announced in September 2019, Julia is inspired by Child's life and long-running series The French Chef. The drama will explore the emergence of public TV, feminism and the women's movement, the nature of celebrity and America's cultural growth.