Amazon MGM Studios Distribution will bring the limited-series “Earth Abides” (6x60’) to MIPCOM 2024. This new take on George R. Stewart’s sci-fi novel of the same name stars Alexander Ludwig (“Vikings”) and Jessica Frances Dukes (“Ozark”). When a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe, the human race is all but wiped out. In the aftermath, as the great machine of civilization slowly and inexorably breaks down, only a few shattered survivors remain to struggle against the slide into extinction. Michael Wright, head of MGM+, and Todd Komarnicki, showrunner and executive producer of “Earth Abides,” talked with Señal News ahead of the series’ presentation.
Wright highlighted that the central idea of “Earth Abides” relies on “how might good, thoughtful people cope and then achieve great things in the wake of a global catastrophe that leaves them utterly alone and without help – is as relevant and powerful today as it was when it was when the book was written.” Komarnicki complemented: “‘Earth Abides’ was ahead of its time, and now has cohered brilliantly with the current moment. The timing of the show is somehow impeccable, even though the book was written in 1949. What author George Stewart saw long before nature was beginning to suffer from man’s inability to live in harmony with her, was that the earth simply doesn’t need us. In fact, we are more like a pestilence she survived. Now, with everything starting over, the earth has a chance to reassert herself, and it is man who must be the survivor. The other thing that deeply resonates for me is that those chosen to be humanity’s second chance aren’t perfectly suited for each other, or the task at hand. They are a mixed salad of personalities and traits that don’t blend into a smooth recipe. And it is their differences that will actually be the reason they are able to make it. This show is a reminder that are differences should not separate us, but rather bring us together. A lesson we could all pay closer attention to in this current moment so riven by strife.”
“Audiences will be thrilled and emotionally satisfied by Ish and Emma’s adventure. Hopefully, also inspired and moved by the results,” mentioned Wright. Meanwhile, Komarnicki hopes audiences take away “the fact that love wins. That despite the impossibility of building everything over again from scratch, with nature as a constant threat, and no clear end goal in sight, the thing that pulls these humans forward day by day…is love.”
When starting production for the series, one of the most significant challenge was, according to Wright, building the world: “We needed to portray the changes that occurred to the planet. We needed to build a world many after the pandemic in which the story takes place. Todd and the team did a beautiful job.” On this topic, Komarnicki believes the biggest challenge in the adaptation was how much time had to be covered: “We see this group spanning more than twenty years together, and showing time jumps without losing the narrative thread and the audience’s connection to the characters takes some very deft work. We all knew that would be the heaviest lift at the beginning, so we took great care to massage the calendar, and find ways for natural time leaps, and key moments in their lives.”
Given the novel's rich history and global fans, the company knew that it was important to appeal to existing fans of the book, but also draw in a new audience. “We do that by first understanding and knowing the book, respecting it, and letting it be the north star for the storytelling. From there, we updated some elements that required attention to reflect what we’ve learned and what has evolved since it was written. I believe fans of the book will be thrilled with the adaptation,” said Wright. “People want to stop and listen to a tale; it is in our DNA. Stewart’s brilliant story is in the infrastructure for keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. What is new is the intimacy of our show. The book was more global in its storytelling, while the show lives in the interactions between strangers who become lovers, friends, enemies,” added Komarnicki.
With a story that embraces social collapse and human perseverance, both executives agreed that these narratives are key in today's entertainment landscape. “The book does something very important – it’s both fiercely honest about the mistakes we are making with our beautiful Mother Earth, but also about the mistakes we make with each other. A story about what earnest people might do if required to rebuild a world in which humans might thrive is a worthy and important story,” said Wright. “This show lives in the shadow of a society torn down to the cobblestones, but really, that is just the stage…the play that takes place on that stage is utterly human. It involves perseverance, but also doubt, rage, hope, joy, addiction, murder, destitution, and resurrection. No matter how dark the road gets for these characters, there is a sliver of light calling them forward. I think that is what it is to be alive,” concluded Komarnicki.
Related News
