David Farnor | On 28, Nov 2020

Amazon has cancelled its remake of Utopia after one season.

The eight-part conspiracy thriller, based on Dennis Kelly’s Channel 4 series, is written by Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl, Sharp Objects). It centres on a group of comic fans who meet online and bond over their obsession of a seemingly fictional comic called Utopia. Together, Becky (Ashleigh LaThrop), Ian (Dan Byrd), Samantha (Jessica Rothe), Wilson Wilson (Desmin Borges) and Grant (Javon “Wanna” Walton) unearth hidden meanings cloaked within the pages of Utopia, predicting threats to humanity. They realise these are not just the makings of a conspiracy; they are very real dangers coming alive right now in their world. The group embarks on a high-stakes adventure, bringing them face-to-face with the comic’s famed central character, Jessica Hyde.

“This reconfiguration of Channel 4’s dystopian thriller is an entertaining echo of the unique original,” we wrote in our review of Season 1, which dropped in September.

Despite Rainn Wilson and John Cusack bringing star wattage to Amazon’s series, Amazon has axed the show just two months later.

The swift cancellation follows a long gestation period, with Flynn working on the project for years and a previous incarnation of the show set up at HBO with David Fincher on board.

 

Trailer: Amazon’s Utopia set for September release

19th August 2020

Amazon’s Utopia remake will officially arrive this September, and a new trailer gives us a closer look at the dark thriller.

The eight-part conspiracy thriller, based on Dennis Kelly’s Channel 4 series, is written by Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl, Sharp Objects). It centres on a group of comic fans who meet online and bond over their obsession of a seemingly fictional comic called Utopia. Together, Becky (Ashleigh LaThrop), Ian (Dan Byrd), Samantha (Jessica Rothe), Wilson Wilson (Desmin Borges) and Grant (Javon “Wanna” Walton) unearth hidden meanings cloaked within the pages of Utopia, predicting threats to humanity. They realise these are not just the makings of a conspiracy; they are very real dangers coming alive right now in their world. The group embarks on a high-stakes adventure, bringing them face-to-face with the comic’s famed central character, Jessica Hyde.

Utopia is filled with hidden meanings, shocking twists and radical evolutions for its dynamic characters — brought to life by an ensemble cast of breakout and seasoned talent, including Sasha Lane as the mysterious Jessica Hyde, John Cusack as the well-meaning Dr. Kevin Christie and Rainn Wilson as the sinister Dr. Michael Stearns.

Alongside Gillian Flynn, executive producers include Jessica Rhoades (with whom Flynn collaborated on Sharp Objects), Sharon Levy, Sharon Hall, Toby Haynes, Karen Wilson, and Kelly. The series is a co-production between Endemol Shine North America, Kudos and Amazon Studios.

It will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on Friday 25th September. Here’s the trailer:

 

Amazon unveils new images of Utopia remake

11th August 2020

Amazon is preparing for Utopia this autumn, and it’s paving the way with a host of new images from the remake.

The eight-episode twisted conspiracy thriller, inspired by the Channel 4 series of the same name, is about saving the world, while trying to find your place in it. From writer Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl, Sharp Objects), who serves as showrunner and executive producer, Utopia centres on a group of comic fans who meet online and bond over their obsession of a seemingly fictional comic called.

Together, Becky (Ashleigh LaThrop), Ian (Dan Byrd), Samantha (Jessica Rothe), Wilson Wilson (Desmin Borges) and Grant (Javon “Wanna” Walton) unearth hidden meanings cloaked within the pages of “Utopia”, predicting threats to humanity. They realise these are not just the makings of a conspiracy; they are very real dangers coming alive right now in their world. The high-stakes adventure brings the group face-to-face with the comic’s famed central character, Jessica Hyde (Sasha Lane), who joins them on their mission to save the world while harbouring secrets of her own. The series also stars John Cusack as Dr. Kevin Christie, Rainn Wilson as Dr. Michael Stearns, Farrah Mackenzie as Alice, Christopher Denham as Arby, and Cory Michael Smith as Thomas Christie.

The first teaser was released last month and now, we’ve got a closer look at that cast in action. Here are some of the new pics released by Amazon on the virtual TCA press tour.

 

Watch: First trailer for Amazon’s Utopia remake

24th July 2020

“Things are getting dangerous…” warns the first trailer for Utopia, Amazon’s US remake of the dystopian thriller.

The series, which is based on Dennis Kelly’s unique Channel 4 drama (prematurely cancelled in 2014), follows a group of young adults who meet online and are mercilessly hunted by a shadowy deep state organisation, after they come into possession of a near mythical, cult, underground graphic novel. They discover the conspiracy theories in the comic’s pages may actually be real and are forced into the ironic position of saving the world.

The series stars Sasha Lane as lead Jessica Hyde and Rainn Wilson as Michael Stearns, a once-promising virologist, who finds himself part of a sinister bigger picture when there is an outbreak of deadly flu. John Cusack joins them as Dr. Kevin Christie, a charismatic, media-savvy, scientistic who wants to change the world.

You can see them all in action for the first time in the new video, which taps into modern fears and timely questions with an unabashedly sense of weirdness. The video was unveiled as part of Amazon’s Comic-Con At Home panel for the show. You can watch that session – and see our guide to the other movie and TV panels worth streaming – here.

The series will premiere on Amazon Prime Video this autumn.

 

John Cusack joins cast of Amazon’s Utopia remake

18th April 2019

John Cusack has joined the cast of Amazon’s Utopia remake.

The thriller, which is based on Dennis Kelly’s unique Channel 4 drama (prematurely cancelled in 2014), is being written by Gone Girl author Gilliam Flynn. The nine-episode series will, like the original, follow a group of young adults who meet online and are mercilessly hunted by a shadowy deep state organisation, after they come into possession of a near mythical, cult, underground graphic novel. They discover the conspiracy theories in the comic’s pages may actually be real and are forced in to the dangerous, unique and ironic position of saving the world.

While the idea of remaking it might dismay fans of the original, Amazon’s project has lined up an impressive array of talent to do so, including Sasha Lane as lead Jessica Hyde and Star Trek: Discovery’s Rainn Wilson Michael Stearns, a once-promising virologist, who finds himself part of a sinister bigger picture when there is an outbreak of deadly flu.

Now, they’ve been joined by Cusack, who will play Dr. Kevin Christie, a charismatic, media-savvy, scientistic who wants to altruistically change the world. It marks his first role in a TV series, after a long career in film, with a varied CV that ranges from High Fidelity to Being John Malkovich and Chi-Raq. Other additions to the cast include Javon “Wanna” Walton, Cougar Town‘s Dan Byrd, Gotham‘s Cory Michael Smith.

 

Rainn Wilson to star in Amazon’s Utopia

24th February 2019

Rainn Wilson will star in Amazon’s remake of Utopia.

The series, which is based on Dennis Kelly’s unique Channel 4 thriller (prematurely cancelled in 2014), is being written by Gone Girl author Gilliam Flynn. The nine-episode drama will, like the original, follow a group of young adults who meet online and are mercilessly hunted by a shadowy deep state organisation, after they come into possession of a near mythical, cult, underground graphic novel. They discover the conspiracy theories in the comic’s pages may actually be real and are forced in to the dangerous, unique and ironic position of saving the world.

After being announced last year, Amazon is now assembling its cast for what promises to be a dark, high-profile project.

Wilson will play Michael Stearns, a once-promising virologist, who finds himself part of a sinister bigger picture when there is an outbreak of deadly flu.

He joins Sasha Lane as the lead Jessica Hyde, plus Cougar Town‘s Dan Byrd and Gotham‘s Cory Michael Smith. Byrd will play Ian, a young college student motivated to uncover the secrets of Utopia by a desire for something more exciting and his crush on fellow conspiracy theorist Becky. Smith will play Thomas Christie, a scientist who works under his father at Christie Laboratories, who is tasked with tracking down the only copy of the titular graphic novel.

 

Doctor Who’s Toby Haynes to direct Amazon’s Utopia

15th October 2018

Doctor Who’s Toby Haynes will helm Amazon’s upcoming adaptation of Utopia.

Dennis Kelly’s Channel 4 thriller was one of the most distinctive TV shows of the last decade, running for two seasons before it was prematurely cancelled in 2014. Disappointed fans can take some comfort, though, in the news that the once-mooted remake is now back on the boil, with Amazon Studios inking a straight-to-series order for Gone Girl’s Gilliam Flynn to pen a US version.

The nine-episode drama will, like the original, follow a group of young adults who meet online and are mercilessly hunted by a shadowy deep state organisation, after they come into possession of a near mythical, cult, underground graphic novel. They discover the conspiracy theories in the comic’s pages may actually be real and are forced in to the dangerous, unique and ironic position of saving the world.

The project is a co-production between Endemol Shine North America, Kudos, an Endemol Shine Group UK production studio, and Amazon Studios. Flynn is the creator, executive producer and showrunner of Utopia, and executive producers include Jessica Rhoades (who Flynn collaborated with on Sharp Objects), Sharon Hall, Karen Wilson, Dennis Kelly and Diederick Santer. Sharon Levy, President, Unscripted & Scripted Television, Endemol Shine North America, will oversee production for Endemol Shine.

“Utopia is pure creative catnip to me. Dennis Kelly’s show blew my mind, and he has been so incredibly generous in letting me crack open his world and play around in it and make it my own weird, wild place,” said Flynn when the deal was announced.

Now, we know who will be helping her bring that weird place to life: Toby Haynes. The director is no stranger to bringing fantastic ideas to the screen, with a CB that includes Doctor Who, Sherlock, Being Human, Black Mirror and BBC One’s Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell. The only question now is who he will be directing: the cast is currently yet to be announced.

 

Utopia remake series heads to Amazon

19th April 2018

The long-awaited US remake of Channel 4’s Utopia is heading to Amazon.

Dennis Kelly’s series of the same name was one of the most distinctive TV shows of the last decade, running for two seasons before it was prematurely cancelled in 2014. Around the same time, though, a US remake was in the pipeline, with David Fincher and Rooney Mara attached and HBO on board. Now, several years after that project failed to advance, the remake is back on, with Amazon signing a straight-to-series order with writer Gillian Flynn.

The best-selling author of Gone Girl has inked an overall deal with Amazon Studios across television, with Utopia the first project at the top of the list. The nine-episode drama will be based on the British series and, like the original, follows a group of young adults who meet online and are mercilessly hunted by a shadowy deep state organisation, after they come into possession of a near mythical, cult, underground graphic novel. They discover the conspiracy theories in the comic’s pages may actually be real and are forced in to the dangerous, unique and ironic position of saving the world.

“We are huge fans of Gillian Flynn’s electrifying work,” says Nick Hall, Head of Alternative Series for Amazon Studios. “She crafts stories that hold her audience in a constant state of suspense and subverts the expectations behind her characters. She will deliver Prime Video members a series they won’t forget, and Utopia’s relevance is sure to connect with viewers around the globe.”

The project is a co-production between Endemol Shine North America, Kudos, an Endemol Shine Group UK production studio, and Amazon Studios. Flynn is the creator, executive producer and showrunner of Utopia, and executive producers include Jessica Rhoades (who Flynn collaborated with on Sharp Objects), Sharon Hall, Karen Wilson, Dennis Kelly and Diederick Santer. Sharon Levy, President, Unscripted & Scripted Television, Endemol Shine North America, will oversee production for Endemol Shine.

“Utopia is pure creative catnip to me. Dennis Kelly’s show blew my mind, and he has been so incredibly generous in letting me crack open his world and play around in it and make it my own weird, wild place. Utopia is all about exploring resonant issues within dark, twisted storytelling—it’s a series that’s urgent and current and a little holy-crap!, but a heck of a lot of a fun,” adds Flynn.

Santer, CEO of Kudos, comments: “Dennis Kelly and the team at Kudos created a unique, dark and gripping British thriller, and we are incredibly excited that it has been so brilliantly reimagined by Gillian Flynn for a new global audience.”

The series will be released exclusively on Amazon Prime Video worldwide. No release date has been confirmed.

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