Julio Torres invites us into the world of Fantasmas in new trailer

Let this be some consolation to you, Los Espookys fans: your first taste of Fantasmas, HBO’s latest Julio Torres comedy, is here. The series premieres on HBO (and will stream on Max) on June 7, and the new trailer is indicative of all the typical preoccupations Torres frequently weaves into his work. “I’m Julio, I’m an Aquarius, I got struck by lightning when I was a child and now I see the world a little differently and I’m allergic to the color yellow,” the protagonist introduces himself. He also dreams that he can “feel the inner lives of shapes, and colors, and sounds, and numbers.” If you’re at all familiar with Torres—through his stand-up, his work at Saturday Night Live, his previous show or his film Problemista—this is exactly the kind of strange and fantastical thinking we’ve come to know and love from the burgeoning auteur.

Per a synopsis, the show is a “fantastical six-part tale of when he lost a gold oyster earring. In his search to find the precious object, Julio reflects on the offbeat characters he encounters in introspective, often eerie, and always comedic vignettes set in a dreamy, alternate version of New York City. A kaleidoscope of color and surrealism, FANTASMAS weaves together stories of people looking for meaning, purpose, and connection in an increasingly isolating world.”

Torres is coming off the critical acclaim of Problemista, released in theaters earlier this year. Torres starred in, wrote, directed, and co-produced the movie alongside Emma Stone and her husband (and Torres’ SNL colleague) Dave McCary. The couple are also producers on Fantasmas, and Stone appears as a vaguely Lisa Rinna-looking Housewife rip-off in the trailer. She’s just one of many recognizable faces that populate the weird world of Fantasmas, which includes guest stars like Steve Buscemi, Paul Dano, Julia Fox, Alexa Demie, Aidy Bryant, Bowen Yang, Kim Petras, Ziwe, Rachel Dratch, Jaboukie Young-White, and more.