Pearce in HBO's 'Pierce'

Guy Pearce, Evan Rachel Wood and Melissa Leo have been added to the cast of HBO’s “Mildred Pierce.”

Five-hour miniseries toplines Kate Winslet as a Los Angeles-based Depression era mom struggling to earn her daughter’s love. Story is based on the novel by James M. Cain.

Joan Crawford won an Oscar for the lead role in the 1945 Michael Curtiz-directed film adaptation of the novel. “Mildred Pierce” earned a total of six noms, including a pair of supporting actress nods for Eve Arden and Ann Blyth.

Todd Haynes, who helmed “Far From Heaven,” will write the script along with Jon Raymond. Haynes will also direct and act as exec producer, along with Pamela Koffler, Christine Vachon and John Wells. Ilene Landress (“The Sopranos”) is co-exec producer and pic is in association with MGM.
Shooting will begin next month in New York.

HBO remains of the only nets committed to the miniseries. Cabler launches the first installment of $200 million “The Pacific” Sunday.

Pearce recently had a small role in the Oscar-winning war pic “The Hurt Locker,” while Leo was nominated last year for “Frozen River.” Both she and Wood have relationships with HBO: Leo has a part in David Simon’s upcoming series New Orleans-set drama “Treme” while Wood appeared last season in “True Blood.”