Last year, we shared a lot of updates – mostly casting announcements – on a pilot TNT was assembling for a potential series based on Bong Joon-ho's 2013 sci-fi film SNOWPIERCER. All of those news reports have been building up to this one: after seeing the Snowpiercer pilot, which was directed by Scott Derrickson (SINISTER, DELIVER US FROM EVIL, DOCTOR STRANGE) from a script written by Josh Friedman, TNT has officially given the series a greenlight.
Snowpiercer is set
seven years after the world has become a frozen wasteland. The series centers on the remnants of humanity, who inhabit a gigantic, perpetually-moving train that circles the globe. As it does, issues of class warfare, social injustice and the politics of survival are raised.
Sarah Aubrey, executive vice president of original programming for TNT, had this to say about the series order:
I'm a personal fan of Bong Joon Ho's epic film, and jumped at the chance to honor his original vision, yet expand upon the world and characters with a diverse, award-winning cast. Science fiction is the perfect genre to examine issues of race, class, gender and natural resources with thought-provoking and exciting storytelling. Snowpiercer will explore those relevant issues while embarking on a wild, action-filled ride."
The cast of Snowpiercer includes Daveed Diggs as a prisoner in the tail end of the train, Jennifer Connelly as a first class passenger who handles the train's PA announcements, Mickey Sumner as part of the train's security force, Annalise Basso as a poor fourth class passenger, Sasha Frolova as a character who is returning to the front of the train after serving three years in the prison car, Benjamin Haigh as the poverty-stricken Fergus McConnell, Alison Wright as a fourth-class passenger who works in a nail salon, Roberto Urbina as a fireman in a polyamorous relationship, Katie McGuinness as Haigh's character's no-nonsense mother, Susan Park as the finest chef at the train's best restaurant, and Lena Hall as the train's archivist. Sam Otto and Sheila Vand are also on board as unspecified characters.
There's no word on when Snowpiercer might reach TNT airwaves, but we'll let you know when the announcement is made.
In the meantime, I still need to get around to watching the movie.