Dave Cunningham
The pandemic has seen a massive downvote in traveling––the risks are just too prevalent to dive in headfirst. The only way to escape home is through the world of entertainment. The outburst of series, films, and even sitcoms has given people who value safety the means to experience fun in the absence of going out.
With this, why not try and enjoy yourself a trip to Nevers-land? Sounds weird, I know, but after HBO released the first teaser trailer for its upcoming fantasy series, The Nevers, you might want to know what it is first. Set to arrive this April on both premium cable channel and its streaming platform HBO Max, here’s everything you need to know about the series!
19th century London has never felt so dangerous, or looked so good. Watch The Nevers, a new HBO original series streaming this April on HBO Max. pic.twitter.com/bwad8uvjfd
— HBO Max (@hbomax) February 2, 2021
Set in the last years of Victorian England (or the end of the 19th century, you decide), the series will follow the story of the “Touched.” The humans, who are mostly women, suddenly display strange and mysterious powers and magical abilities that are fascinating yet disturbing.
Among these “blessed” group of people, a “mysterious, quick-fister” widow by the name of Amalia True (Laura Donnelly) and an inventor named Penance Adair (Ann Skelly) are the ones you’ll be looking out for. According to the official plot, the two are “champions of this new underclass, making a home for the Touched, while fighting the forces of — well, pretty much all the forces — to make room for those whom history as we know it has no place.”
It’s the “well, pretty much all the forces” that did it for me. HBO Max, you never fail to entertain.
Anyway, compared to other series and films that have problems with the cast in front of the camera, The Nevers, instead, had big problems behind it. Created by Joss Whedon and perfecting it for three years, he departed the project last November because of the ongoing accusations by Ray Fisher over the alleged toxic climate surrounding Whedon for the reshoots on Justice League.
Though Whedon has yet to respond to Fisher’s claims, he did say that his exit from The Nevers was because he was “genuinely exhausted” by the physical obstacles brought by the pandemic. After Whedon’s exit, Mary Magdalene and How to Talk to Girls at Parties‘ Philippa Goslett was hired to take hold of production for the second half of the season as the showrunner.
In announcing his departure, Whedon’s parting words were:
“While developing and producing The Nevers has been a joyful experience, I realize that the level of commitment required moving forward, combined with the physical challenges of making such a huge show during a global pandemic, is more than I can handle without the work beginning to suffer,“
Whedon, as we all know, is an exceptional talent. Working alongside the Russo brothers for the Avengers and DC’s Justice League, this one man has seen what’s behind the summit of the mountain. When taking a closer look at The Nevers‘ trailer, you can still see some of Whedon’s trademark styles. For example, the ensemble cast, the socially repressing ideologies that provide disarray toward humans, and inequality. Just this time, revolving around a very steampunk vibe and women.
If it were to be seen by a casual, The Nevers would easily be described as a female-driven version of the X-Men (to which I have no problems with, honestly––that’s just badass) with powers, politics, and action scenes. That, essentially, is the Whedon way.
The cast for the six-episode season includes the likes of Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley, Rochelle Neil, Denis O’Hare, Ella Smith, Nick Frost, and others. The series will be debuting in April. As for what date, that’s yet to be confirmed by HBO Max.
