David Farnor | On 08, Aug 2018

The Innocents arrives on our screens this month and, judging by its new trailer, it’s shaping up to be Netflix’s next summer sensation.

The streaming giant rewrote the seasonal rulebook two years ago, when Stranger Things debuted and emerged as a sleeper hit, becoming the most talked-about TV show of the summer. Since then, the hot months, which traditionally have been the off-season for telly broadcasters and watchers, have become home to everything from Game of Thrones to Sharp Objects and Picnic at Hanging Rock.

The Innocents has all the ingredients needed to replicate Stranger Things success: a teenage couple on the run, a shape-shifting supernatural twist upon their coming-of-age woes, and the bonus addition of Guy Pearce.

It follows Harry and June, as they run away from their repressive families to be together, only to be derailed by an extraordinary discovery – June’s ability to shape-shift. As the star-crossed lovers struggle to control this strange new power, a mysterious professor reveals that June is not alone: there are more shifters out there like her, and he promises to cure June and reunite her with the mother who deserted her three years ago. But as their journey becomes increasingly fraught with danger, Harry and June’s love for each other is tested to breaking point and they’re faced with a choice: keep their innocent dream alive, or embrace that their lives have changed and risk everything.

The series premieres on Friday 24th August. Here’s the new trailer:

 

Netflix’s The Innocents explores changing identities through supernatural lens

30th July 2018

This summer sees Netflix debut its latest intriguing sci-fi drama, The Innocents, and a new video gives us a sneak peek at what the British series has in store.

Created and written by Hania Elkington and Simon Duric, who also executive produce, the series follows teenagers Harry and June, who run away from their repressive families to be together. At the same time, they’re derailed by an extraordinary discovery – June’s ability to shape-shift. A mysterious professor, Halvorson, reveals that June is not alone: there are more shifters out there like her, and he promises to cure June and reunite her with the mother who deserted her three years ago. But as their journey becomes increasingly fraught with danger, Harry and June’s love for each other is tested to breaking point and they’re faced with a choice: keep their innocent dream alive, or risk everything.

Stars Sorcha Groundsell (June), Percelle Ascott (Harry) and Guy Pearce (Halvorson) joined Elkington and Duric at Netflix’s TCA press tour event this weekend to unveil the latest video, plus talk about the drama, revealing how they wanted to explore emotional and identity changes through a supernatural lens.

“We all change emotionally and physically,” explained Duric, “We wanted to look at what it means to love someone unconditionally and what does change due to a relationship? Hopefully, the questions it raises applies to people of all ages.”

“The main theme of the show for me is the nature of identity and finding out who we are. If it’s shapeshifting, or someone living in Russia or America, it’s all about the same question of who am I?” continued Groundsell. “Plus, the nature of [her ability] is stressful and its medical, brought on by extreme stress. It’s happening to her, without her control, which is disturbing and scary. Our characters at the beginning are so hopeful for their new life together and it’s derailed.”

Of his mysterious character Halvorson, Pearce commented: “He is a medical doctor and probably sees himself as someone who really wants to carve his own path in how he wants to develop his medical path. He ended up in a part of the world he never expected and has a partner with this genetic condition that means she shifts. But there is also ego involved with his want to make a name for himself. He’s away from the normal constraints of the medical community and wants to get to the bottom of it before others discover it. He’s finding these other women who also have this condition… He’s a good guy, but maybe getting ahead of himself.”

All episodes of The Innocents will launch on Friday 24th August. Here’s the new video:

 

Watch: The creepily good trailer for Netflix’s The Innocents

19th April 2018

What you see is not what you see, teaches the new trailer for Netflix’s The Innocents – and judging by the two-minute teaser, the British supernatural drama promises to be creepily good.

The series stars Clique’s Sorcha Groundsell as June, whose adventure starting a new life in London becomes a lot more complicated than she could have ever expected. Suddenly she finds herself the subject of a kidnap plot, their intentions unknown. Faced with extreme stress, her body and identity begin to shift in ways she could have never imagined. The question is not just how… but why?

She’s joined by Percelle Ascott (Wizards vs. Aliens) as Harry, another runaway who also finds himself with a powerful gift. As the secrets kept from them by their parents come to the surface. They quickly realize that nothing is what it seems. And in this world, the only way to survive is to change.

Guy Pearce completes the cast as Halvorson, only adding to the unsettling, stylish vibe. The eight-episode series is created and written by Hania Elkington (The North London Book of the Dead) and Simon Duric (The Crown, Black Mirror), with Farren Blackburn (Doctor Who) and Jamie Donaghue on directing duties. It premieres on Netflix on Friday 24th August. Here’s the new trailer:

 

Guy Pearce to star in Netflix’s The Innocents

15th February 2018

Guy Pearce is heading to Netflix for his next project, as he heads up the cast for The Innocents.

The supernatural teen drama was first ordered by Netflix last year, as the streaming giant steps up its investment in British TV. Produced by New Pictures, owned by All3Media and previously behind The Missing, the series will shoot in both the UK and Norway. It follows two teenagers who run away from the repressive family lives.

Pearce will star as Halvorson, leading up an ensemble that includes Percelle Ascott (Wizards vs. Aliens) and Sorcha Groundsell (Clique). They will play Harry and June, a runaway duo who are quickly thrown into an extraordinary journey of self-discovery, as the gift they possess unleashes powerful forces, and secrets kept from them by their parents come to the surface. They quickly realise that nothing is what it seems. And in this world, the only way to survive is to change.

The eight-episode series is created and written by Hania Elkington (The North London Book of the Dead) and Simon Duric (The Crown, Black Mirror), with Farren Blackburn (Doctor Who) and Jamie Donaghue on directing duties. Here’s a teaser trailer:

 

Netflix orders British supernatural series

Netflix has commissioned The Innocents, a new supernatural drama, as the streaming giant steps up its investment in British TV.

The eight-episode drama is created by Hania Elkington (The North London Book of the Dead) and Simon Duric (The Crown, Black Mirror). It is exec-produced by Charlie Pattinson, Elaine Pyke and Willow Grylls, alongside Farren Blackburn (Doctor Who), who will also direct. Little is know about the programme, which is yet to have a title, but The Hollywood Reporter describes it as “an emotional love story thriller about two teenage runaways”.

The show is produced by New Pictures, founded by the three EPs above, which is owned by All3Media. The production company was previously behind The Missing and Channel 4’s Indian Summers, and is also producing supernatural drama Requieum for the BBC.

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