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Leslie Bibb to Appear in “Hacks” With Jean Smart, and Will Join Brett Goldstein’s New Series “Escorted” Featuring Lesley Manville
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Culture/The Apex Times/Aug 13, 5:09 PM EDT

Leslie Bibb to Appear in “Hacks” With Jean Smart, and Will Join Brett Goldstein’s New Series “Escorted” Featuring Lesley Manville

Bibb says she does not think of her career milestones as “moments,” adding that the roles felt years in the making as she lines up new television projects alongside Jean Smart in Hacks and Lesley Manville in Escorted.

3 min readEditor-approved Apex article

Leslie Bibb is set to expand her television footprint with two new projects announced in industry coverage on August 13, 2026: an appearance on the Emmy-winning comedy Hacks with Jean Smart, and a role in Brett Goldstein’s upcoming series Escorted, alongside Lesley Manville. The announcements position Bibb for a prominent run at a time when premium comedy remains a central driver of subscriber growth and awards-season attention.

In remarks reported by Deadline, Bibb said she does not like framing her career in terms of a single “moment.” She told the publication that she prefers to see her path as something she has been “preparing for” over the course of her career, with the timing of these roles feeling like “the stars are aligning.” She said the feeling is not fleeting, describing her attitude as an ongoing build rather than a brief peak.

The Hacks involvement places Bibb in a project already associated with Smart’s profile. Deadline’s report specifically connects Bibb to Smart in Hacks, indicating the new appearance will put her in the orbit of a show that has become closely associated with Smart’s comedic range. The report does not detail episode count, character name, or plot specifics in the material provided.

Bibb is also slated to join Escorted, a new series created by Brett Goldstein and reported to star Lesley Manville. Deadline’s framing of the project emphasizes the pairing of Goldstein’s comedic sensibility with Manville’s dramatic and comedic capabilities, while also highlighting Bibb’s own move into a new collaboration. The report characterizes Bibb’s reaction to landing the work as disbelief that it is unfolding now, quoting her response, “How Is This My Life?”

The coverage notes that Bibb previously gained broad recognition through her breakout role as Brooke McQueen on Popular. That earlier work is cited as part of the context for how her career has progressed to the current slate, including the idea that she has reached the “parts” she believes she has been positioning herself for over time.

Beyond individual casting announcements, the dual project news underscores how major comedy series continue to rely on ensemble mixing, bringing in actors with recognizable audience traction and proven network or streaming performance. For viewers, it also means Bibb will be operating across two different show environments, one tied to Hacks and the other tied to Goldstein’s new undertaking.

At this stage, the publicly provided material does not include premiere dates, production start timelines, or character details for either series. Additional casting information typically follows in later entertainment trade reports as production schedules tighten and episodes move into post-production or platform release planning.

Representatives for the projects and platforms were not included in the provided package, and no confirmation beyond the Deadline report’s casting and quote is included here. If more details emerge, they are expected to clarify Bibb’s specific roles, episode placements, and the respective series schedules for Hacks and Escorted.

Why It Matters

  • Bibb’s casting adds another recognizable performer to two separate premium comedy and series pipelines, potentially broadening audience interest across both projects.
  • The releases will matter to viewers who follow ensemble casting trends in streaming and premium television, where guest and recurring roles can shape episode-to-episode tone.
  • Because the provided material does not include dates or character specifics, the next public details will likely focus on when the series will premiere and what roles Bibb will play.
  • The announcements reflect ongoing emphasis on collaboration among established leads, including Jean Smart in Hacks and Lesley Manville in Escorted, with casting designed to sustain strong writing and performance ecosystems.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Deadline reported on August 13, 2026 that Leslie Bibb will appear in Hacks with Jean Smart.
  • The same report said Bibb will join Brett Goldstein’s new series Escorted.
  • Deadline reported that Escorted stars Lesley Manville alongside Goldstein.
  • Deadline included comments from Bibb saying she does not like to describe career progress as “moment,” and that she feels she has been preparing for the roles for her whole career.
  • The Deadline report cites Bibb’s breakout role as Brooke McQueen on Popular as background context.