Malcolm D. Lee Expands His Empire: Taye Diggs Joins Spy Drama “Need to Know” as Director Tackles Gritty Thriller “Becoming Marlow Fin

Hollywood’s smoothest storyteller just got a whole lot busier. Director and producer Malcolm D. Lee, the man behind The Best Man franchise and Girls Trip, is officially trading champagne brunches for covert missions and psychological intrigue. The filmmaker is developing two new drama projects, the spy thriller Need to Know starring Taye Diggs for NBC, and the Peacock adaptation of Becoming Marlow Fin, based on Ellen Won Steil’s darkly glamorous novel.

For a man known for sharp ensemble comedies, Lee is making a bold pivot. Need to Know puts Diggs front and center as a battle-scarred CIA veteran forced to team up with a cocky rookie to run high-stakes operations from a secret base in South Florida. Think Burn Notice meets Training Day, with Diggs bringing that signature charm and intensity. Alexander Maggio penned the pilot script, and Terence Paul Winter (Castle) is attached as showrunner if the series moves forward. The project is part of Lee’s first-look deal with Universal Television, developed under his Blackmaled Productions banner.

Meanwhile, Becoming Marlow Fin might just be Peacock’s next obsession. The psychological drama follows international superstar Marlow Fin as she sits down for a primetime interview and slowly unravels the truth behind her sister’s mysterious disappearance and her own suspected involvement. If you like your TV served with a side of fame, guilt, and scandal, this one’s your kind of messy. Writer Des Moran is adapting the novel, with Steil and Lee executive producing.

NBC and Peacock are clearly betting on his proven storytelling chops to give their drama slates a jolt of fresh energy. Between Diggs’ star power and Lee’s knack for sleek character-driven narratives, Need to Know could be the next breakout spy series audiences didn’t know they needed. And with Becoming Marlow Fin, Lee steps into the moody, prestige-drama lane, tackling celebrity culture and moral decay with style.

These projects mark a serious expansion of his creative empire, and both have that juicy mix of star power and substance that streaming audiences love. Whether you’re here for the espionage or the scandal, keep your remote close. Need to Know and Becoming Marlow Fin are shaping up to be two of the most intriguing new dramas in development.

Stay tuned to The TV Cave for more updates, casting scoops, and maybe a few sly winks from Lee himself. After all, when Malcolm D. Lee steps behind the camera, things get interesting fast.