TBS has released the first images from their upcoming TV series adaptation ofSnowpiercer. Created byGraeme Manson(Orphan Black), the upcoming series starsDaveed Diggsas Andrew Layton, an ex-detective who’s recruited by the train’s authorities to track down a killer. “Layton is a resident of the tail, which is the lowest class all the way at the back of the train,” Diggs tellsEW. “But he becomes useful for people uptrain.”
DirectorJames Hawes(Black Mirror) doesn’t want to classifySnowpierceras a “political show”, but does note, “It is adventure storytelling. But it obviously touches on a lot of themes from the news.” I assume they want to stay away from the label “political” because there’s a subset of people who don’t understand that all art is political and if you do anything to remind them of the real world in their escapist entertainment, they’ll screech to “keep politics out of it.”
Jennifer Connellyco-stars as Melanie Cavill, “the head of hospitality who is also, ‘the voice of the train, she does the announcements to all of the passengers,’ says the actress. There are no details beyond that, but you can see from these images that she’s one of the better-off people on the train, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she turns out to be a primary antagonist.
I’m still approachingSnowpiercerwith a lot of trepidation. The 2014 movie was something directorBong Joon-horeally had to fight for, and he made that dark vision a reality. It looks like TBS wants that veneer of prestige television, but are they really going to push their audience to some uncomfortable places? Or is this going to be a simple, “The rich exploit the poor, and also there’s a murder mystery”? We’ll find out whenSnowpiercerpremieres in spring 2020.
Check out the first images fromSnowpiercerbelow.
