HBO Max’s Station Eleven trailer brings a traveling band of performers to the end of the world
The survivors of the Apocolypse include Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, and the always welcome Lori Petty
The end of the world won’t be the end of people if the trailer for HBO Max’s hotly anticipated series Station Eleven reveals. Evoking the horseback riding culture of the early days of The Walking Dead, this adaptation of Emily St. John Mandel’s international bestseller is a sprawling post-apocalyptic television series.
Station Eleven’s trailer succinctly lays out the premise. The multi-pronged narrative that crosses time and space follows the survivors of a deadly virus. (ugh, c’mon, already?). One such group takes up residence in an abandoned airport, which according to one character is “the best thing that could’ve happened.” Anyone who’s been laid over in JFK knows this isn’t true, but whatever, we’ll give him a pass because the world ended. Another is a roving band of actors and performers, putting up Shakespeare productions across the barren United States.
The book spans multiple timelines, giving a complete account of the story’s main character Kirsten. Kirsten is played by both Halt And Catch Fire’s Mackenzie Davis (she plays adult Kirsten) and by newcomer Matilda Lawler. Her story spans decades, as does her friendship with Jeevan (Hamish Patel), who becomes her de facto caretaker as a child.
There are some exciting names in the project, too. Who isn’t happy to see Lori Petty and Gael Garcìa Bernal? They’re always a welcome addition to any project.
The show comes from Patrick Somerville, the creator of Netflix’s Maniac, which starred Jonah Hill and Emma Stone and ran for 10 episodes in 2018. Somerville also spent some time in the wastelands of the end of the world as a writer for HBO’s The Leftovers, so that’s a pretty strong pedigree right there.
Hiro Murai, a longtime collaborator with Donald Glover, directing Atlanta, Guava Island, and the “This Is America” music video, is helming two episodes of Station Eleven. He’s also directed episodes of Barry, so it’ll be exciting to see what he does with the remaining vestiges of humanity. Other directors include Jeremy Podeswa, Helen Shaver, and Lucy Tcherniak.
The first three episodes of Station Eleven will premiere on HBO Max on December 16. After that, two episodes will premiere weekly on Thursdays until the final episode on January 13.
Correction: An earlier version of this article featured several inaccuracies, including plot details and credits. The airport and theater troupe are two distinct groups, and Hiro Murai will not be directing all 10 episodes. We regret the error.