Given the pedigree of the source material, the creative team and the cast, it’s not too much of a surprise to learn that TNT has officially greenlit their TV series based on train-bound postapocalypse Snowpiercer.
Deadline reports that TNT “had been high on Snowpiercer from the get-go and commissioned backup scripts along with the pilot order,” although the length of the first season has not bene confirmed.
The pilot was written by Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles‘ Josh Friedman and directed by Doctor Strange‘s Scott Derrickson, and it definitely looks like Bong Joon-ho’s film will be as much of an inspiration, if not more, than the French comic by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette. Just take a look at this statement from TNT original programming EVP Sarah Aubrey:
“I’m a personal fan of Bong Joon Ho’s epic film, and jumped at the chance to honor his original vision, yet expand upon the world and characters with a diverse, award-winning cast. Science fiction is the perfect genre to examine issues of race, class, gender and natural resources with thought-provoking and exciting storytelling. Snowpiercer will explore those relevant issues while embarking on a wild, action-filled ride.”
The impressive cast for the series is led by Jennifer Connelly and Hamilton‘s Daveed Diggs, and includes Mickey Sumner (Battle Of The Sexes, Frances Ha), Susan Park (Vice Principals, The Good Place), Benjamin Haigh, Sasha Frolova (The OA), Katie McGuinness (Lucky Man, Roots), Alison Wright (The Americans, The Accountant), Annalise Basso (Oculus, Ouija: Origin Of Evil), Sam Otto (The State), Roberto Urbina (Narcos), Sheila Vand (A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, XX), Hiro Kanagawa (iZombie, The Man In The High Castle), Lena Hall (Girls, BoJack Horseman) and Robin Weigert (Deadwood, Jessica Jones). Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook, Lee Tae-hun and Dooho Choi are on board as executive producers.
The series “is set seven years after the world has become a frozen wasteland. It centers on the remnants of humanity, who inhabit a gigantic, perpetually-moving train that circles the globe. Class warfare, social injustice and the politics of survival are questioned in this riveting television adaptation.”
It does seem crazy that we’ll probably see a TV series based on Snowpiercer before we actually get Bong Joon-ho’s film in the UK…
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