'Utopia': Release date, plot, trailer, cast and all you need to know about the American remake of the cult classic
At Comic-Con 2020, the first trailer of Amazon Prime's 'Utopia' was released, generating much interest online. The remake of the controversial cult classic will see the British series gain a high-budget American remake. Interestingly, this isn't the first time the show was up for renewal. In 2014, just as Channel 4 was canceling 'Utopia', HBO announced that director David Fincher would be helming an all-new remake. This didn't take off and now the show is at Prime, with Gillian Flynn taking over as showrunner and writer.
'Utopia' is the story of a worldwide conspiracy that appears to be predicted by a comic book known as 'The Utopia Experiments'. In this intriguing show, fan theorists online find the manuscript for the comic and become an immediate target for shadowy agents, who wish to put the conspiracy behind them. The series was appreciated for its dark, subversive and mind-bending plot. Unfortunately, it was canceled after two seasons, much to fans' disappointment.
Nevertheless, here's what you need to know about the American remake.
Release date
The release date hasn't been declared yet. It is expected to release sometime in 2020, on Amazon Prime.
Plot
The official synopsis of the show reads as, "Utopia centers on a group of comic fans who meet online and bond over their obsession of a seemingly fictional comic called, “Utopia.” Together, Ian (Dan Byrd), Becky (Ashleigh LaThrop), 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 realize 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 harboring 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."
Cast
John Cusack
John Cusack stars as Kevin Christie, a charismatic and media-savvy biotech expert. Cusack has starred in more than 85 films in his career, the notable ones being ' Better Off Dead' (1985), 'Say Anything'... (1989), 'Bullets over Broadway' (1994), 'Grosse Pointe Blank' (1997), 'Being John Malkovich' (1999), 'High Fidelity' (2000), '1408' (2007), and 'Igor' (2008).
Ashleigh LaThrop
Ashleigh LaThrop plays Becky. The actress is known for 'The Handmaid's Tale' (2017), 'The Kominsky Method' (2018) and 'Fifty Shades Freed' (2018).
Jessica Rothe
Rothe plays Samantha. She is known for her role in the MTV television series 'Mary + Jane' (2016) and for her lead role as Tree Gelbman in the slasher film 'Happy Death Day' (2017) and its 2019 sequel.
Dan Byrd
Byrd plays Ian. Byrd's most prominent roles include the 2004 film 'A Cinderella Story', the 2006 remake of 'The Hills Have Eyes,' 'Easy A' and the sitcoms 'Aliens in America' and 'Cougar Town'.
Billions‘ Christopher Denham and Gotham‘s Cory Michael Smith round out the cast.
Creator
The American version of the series is being written by Gillian Flynn. It marks the TV return of the “Gone Girl” author after her hit “Sharp Objects” adaptation for HBO.
Trailer
The eight-episode “twisted conspiracy” drama centers on a group of comic fans who meet online and bond over their obsession of a seemingly fictional comic called Utopia.
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