Kaos: Hugh Grant to play Zeus in Netflix’s darkly comic mythology series

Russell Crowe isn’t the only Zeus in our future. Deadline has reported that Hugh Grant (The Undoing) will play Zeus in Kaos, Netflix’s upcoming “bold, darkly comic, contemporary take on Greek mythology” being developed by Charlie Covell (The End of the F***ing World).

While seemingly all-powerful, Hugh Grant’s Zeus is also a “desperately insecure and vengeful” figure who has long enjoyed his status as King of the Gods. But when he wakes up one morning and discovers a wrinkle on his forehead, neurosis takes hold, setting Zeus off on a dangerous, paranoid path as he becomes convinced his fall is coming – and starts to see signs of it everywhere. Hugh Grant isn’t the only new addition to Kaos, as it was also announced that David Thewlis (Fargo) will play Hades, God of the Underworld; Cliff Curtis (Avatar: The Way of Water) will play Poseidon, God of Sea, Storms and Earthquakes; Janet McTeer (Ozark) will play Hera, Queen of the Gods; and Nabhaan Rizwan (Station Eleven) as Dionysus, Zeus’ rebellious son.

The mortals of Earth are aching for change and soon come to realize that their lives are of little importance to the Gods. “These mortals – Riddy (Aurora Perrineau), Orpheus (Killian Scott), Caneus (Misia Butler) and Ari (Leila Farzad) – come from different walks of life and are all cosmically connected in the battle against Zeus,” reads Deadline’s description. “Each one has a very different role to play, and any one of them may be destined to bring down the God.” Kaos will be directed by Georgi Banks-Davies and Runyararo Mapfumo. In a statement, Charlie Covell said:

I’m absolutely thrilled to be making KAOS, and I can’t think of a more exciting or dynamic team of people to bring everything to life. Georgi and Runyararo are both visionary directors with pleasingly dark senses of humour — I’m delighted to be working with them both. I believe I’m still in shock at the news that Hugh Grant has agreed to play Zeus — this was my dream. He’s leading a stupendous cast of actors and we’re extremely honoured to have them all on board. I can’t wait for filming to begin.

Production on Kaos is expected to begin this summer. Hugh Grant will next be seen in Guy Ritchie’s Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (which doesn’t have a release date) and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves on March 3, 2023.