David Farnor | On 01, Jun 2019

“Some of you will not be coming back…” That’s the sound of a US air squadron shaping up to fly into Italy during World War II in Catch-22.

Hulu’s drama, first announced last year, is a six-part adaptation of Joseph Heller’s novel. Executive produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov on behalf of Smokehouse Pictures, along with Richard Brown and Steve Golin on behalf of Anonymous Content, the series is co-written by Luke Davies and David Michôd.

It follows artful dodger Yossarian (Christopher Abbott), a US Air Force bombardier who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy, but rather his own army which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to avoid his military assignments, he’ll be in violation of Catch-22, a sinister bureaucratic rule that specifies a concern for one’s own safety in the face of dangers which are real and immediate is the process of a rational mind; a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but a request to be removed from duty is evidence of sanity and therefore makes him ineligible to be relieved from duty.

The cast includes Kyle Chandler (Colonel Cathcart), George Clooney (Scheisskopf), Hugh Laurie (Major de Coverley), and a new trailer gives us our first look at the ensemble in action. The series airs on Hulu in the USA on 17th May and will premiere on Channel 4 at 9pm on Thursday 20th June, with episodes airing weekly.

First look: Channel 4’s Catch-22

20th December 2018

Hulu’s Catch-22 is coming to Channel 4 in 2019, and now, we have our first look at the star-studded drama.

Based on Joseph Heller’s seminal novel of the same name, Catch-22 is the story of the incomparable, artful dodger, Yossarian (Christopher Abbott), a US Air Force bombardier in World War II who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him. But his real problem is not the enemy, but rather his own army which keeps increasing the number of missions the men must fly to complete their service. Yet if Yossarian makes any attempt to avoid his military assignments, he’ll be in violation of Catch-22, a sinister bureaucratic rule that specifies a concern for one’s own safety in the face of dangers which are real and immediate is the process of a rational mind; a man is considered insane if he willingly continues to fly dangerous combat missions, but a request to be removed from duty is evidence of sanity and therefore makes him ineligible to be relieved from duty.

The cast includes Kyle Chandler (Colonel Cathcart), George Clooney (Scheisskopf), Hugh Laurie (Major de Coverley), Giancarlo Giannini (Marcello), Daniel David Stewart (Milo), Rafi Gavron (Aarfy), Austin Stowell (Nately), Graham Patrick Martin (Orr), Gerran Howell (Kid Sampson), Jon Rudnitsky (McWatt), Kevin J. O’Connor (Korn), Pico Alexander (Clevinger), Tessa Ferrer (Nurse Duckett), Lewis Pullman (Major Major), Josh Bold (Dunbar), Jay Paulson (Chaplain) and Julie Ann Emery (Marion).

Executive produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov on behalf of Smokehouse Pictures, along with Richard Brown and Steve Golin on behalf of Anonymous Content, the series is co-written by Luke Davies and David Michôd.

The six-part series, directed by Clooney, Heslov and Ellen Kuras, will air on Channel 4 a an unconfirmed date in 2019.

Hulu’s Catch-22 finds UK TV home on Channel 4
8th May 2018

Hulu’s upcoming Catch-22 TV series has found its UK TV home on Channel 4.

The six-part adaptation of Joseph Heller’s iconic novel, executive produced, directed and co-starring George Clooney, follows the story of Captain John Yossarian (Christopher Abbott – Girls), a US air force soldier in World War II who can’t understand why thousands of people who have never met him want to kill him. Yossarian is a rebellious and fearful anti-hero, who is trying to survive the war against the odds. Desperate to impress his superiors, Colonel Cathcart (Kyle Chandler) keeps raising the numbers of the missions his men have to fly. Yossarian is driven half-mad by his will to live. He wants to complete his service and leave, but his efforts are blocked by Catch-22, a ridiculous bureaucratic rule which states that pilots don’t have to fly if they are certified insane, but unfortunately for the men, the same rule also states that being driven mad by fear is a rational emotion, which therefore means the individual is sane and able to carry on with the mission.

Clooney will play the role of Scheisskopf, a training commander based at the cadet school in California. Scheisskopf isn’t the most likeable man; he’s not the type of person who puts his cadets’ interests before his own career. He’s ambitious, but also inept. Clooney will be joined by Hugh Laurie as Major de Coverley.

The show is produced for Hulu by Paramount Television, Anonymous Content, Clooney and Grant Heslov (Argo) on behalf of Smokeshouse Pictures, along with Richard Brown (“True Detective”) and Steve Golin (Spotlight) from Anonymous Content. Luke Davies (Lion) and David Michod (Animal Kingdom) are co-writing and Executive Producing the series alongside Clooney. Ellen Kuras (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) will direct the series, alongside Clooney and Heslov.

The darkly humorous, yet tragic and absurdist satire, promises to be as resonant today as it was 50 years when first published. Indeed, it follows Hulu’s equally pertinent The Handmaid’s Tale adaptation, which recently saw the online subscription service become the first streaming platform to win Best Drama at the Emmys. With The Handmaid’s Tale already acquired by Channel 4, the broadcaster is stepping up its relationship with Hulu for this second collaboration – Channel 4 will contribute to “select aspects of the development of the project”, as well as airing the series exclusively in the UK.

“I’m very excited to be working with Channel 4 to bring the classic Catch-22 to their channel. I couldn’t think of a better place to be doing this,” says George Clooney.

Ian Katz, Director of Programmes, Channel 4, adds: “It’s hard to imagine a work that speaks more directly to the frequently absurd times we live in, and to the growing sense of individual distrust of institutions, than Catch-22. David Michôd and Luke Davies have produced a script that crackles with irony, anger and humanity. I’m thrilled that it will be a part of our stellar 2019 drama offer.”

The series will air on Channel 4 in 2019.

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