Nathan Fielder is an off-beat comedian who graduated from one of Canada’s top business schools with really good grades. His former shows, Nathan For You and the recent The Rehearsal from HBO, are masterful at being uncomfortable and cringe-inducing by design as part of the humor. His combined powers with Uncut Gems director Benny Safdie bring us an abstract trailer for The Curse. The Curse is a rare scripted narrative series for Fielder, and it teams him up with the show’s star, Emma Stone. Stone is currently gaining praise in the festival circuit for her new bold Frankenstein-esque film, Poor Things.
The official synopsis from Showtime reads,
“Newly married couple Whitney and Asher are convinced they’re helping to build communities – and save lives – by developing eco-friendly homes for ‘Fliplanthropy,’ their socially conscious new reality show. But behind every on-camera renovation lies a path of off-camera destruction when a hostile makeover, a healthy dose of unreality and a pair of oblivious outsiders collide.”
The show also guest stars Oscar nominee Barkhad Abdi, known for his villainous turn in Captain Phillips, as well as Emmy nominee Corbin Bernsen, from L.A. Law and the baseball comedy Major League, and Constance Shulman, who some may know from her voiceover work on the children’s animated TV show, Doug.
A co-production of SHOWTIME and A24, THE CURSE is co-created, executive produced and written by Benny Safdie and Nathan Fielder. Fielder also serves as a director. Emma Stone executive produces alongside Dave McCary and Ali Herting through their Fruit Tree banner. Josh Safdie also executive produces through their Elara banner.
The Curse just had its world premiere at the 2023 New York Film Festival on Thursday, October 12, which screened the first three episodes. Then, the series is set to premiere on streaming and on-demand for all Showtime and
Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers on Friday, November 10. Then, it will be broadcast on Showtime on Sunday, November 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.