An original series created by Joss Whedon of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly and The Avengers fame, HBO's The Nevers puts what looks to be a very comic book-y spin on Victorian England. The show stars Laura Donnelly (Outlander) and Ann Skelly (Vikings) as a pair of young women who develop supernatural abilities, allowing them to join forces and stand up for England's underclass. That includes other people -- mostly women -- with unusual powers similar to their own, AKA the Touched.
Recently, Whedon departed The Nevers, citing his exhaustion from the "physical challenges" of making the series in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. HBO has since kicked off its marketing for the show, with writer/producer Philippa Goslett (How to Talk to Girls at Parties) taking Whedon's place as showrunner. Since the series' premiere is just around the corner, here's what you need to know about the plot, release date and trailer for The Nevers.
Donnelly stars in The Nevers as Amalia True, a "mysterious, quick-fisted widow" who teams up with Penance Adair (Skelly), a "brilliant young inventor," to make a place for the Touched in late Victoria-era English society. In an interview at San Diego Comic-Con 2018, Whedon noted Donnelly and Skelly's characters, as well as other members of the Touched, are never called "The Nevers" on the show. “It’s a phrase that’s meant to evoke a sort of reaction to their oddity, to what is considered unnatural. The idea that you should never be like this, you should never have existed," Whedon explained.
The Nevers is already being compared to X-Men, another property that revolves around superpowered individuals who are prejudiced against and persecuted by a society fearful of their abilities. Of course, Whedon's show includes the added twist of its heroes being, for the most part, women who also have to deal with the constraints and expectations of Victorian society, on top of being outcast for their powers.
Much like X-Men, though, The Nevers aims to touch on social issues beyond sexism. For example, one of its subplots involves Dr. Horatio Cousens (Zackary Momoh), who's struggled to become "one of the few successful West Indian physicians in London" when he develops powers of his own, putting all he's worked for at risk. Meanwhile, another story thread involves Detective Frank Mundi (Ben Chaplin), a gruff policeman infamous for his "sudden violence" and excessive drinking, yet unsure if he should support London's upperclass, who think they're above the law, or those "who ignore the laws of physics."
In addition to the actors listed above, The Nevers cast also includes Olivia Williams, who previously costarred in Whedon's TV series Dollhouse, as Lavinia Bidlow, a "stern and old-fashioned" but also clever and caring, wealthy spinster who funds the orphanage where many of the Touched reside. In addition, Tom Riley costars as Lavinia's brother Augustus, a "sweet, disarming nerd" and ornithologist who develops feelings for Penance, yet is influenced by Hugo Swan (James Norton), a "pansexual posh boy" who runs a secret club and is fascinated by the Touched.
Rounding out The Nevers cast are names like: Nick Frost as Declan Orrun, AKA The Beggar King, a "charismatic and brutal" crime lord who's happy to help the Touched and their cause as long as it benefits him; Eleanor Tomlinson as Mary Brighton, a "gentle but surprisingly resilient" wannabe singer whose life takes a turn for the very surprising; and American Horror Story veteran Denis O'Hare as Dr. Edmund Hague, a "gifted American surgeon" who uses his skills in the "coldest, most brutal way possible."
The Nevers will premiere on HBO and stream on HBO Max in April. Considering that in recent years, that month has been reserved for series like Westworld and, before it ended, Game of Thrones, HBO is no doubt hoping The Nevers will appeal to the same demographics that made those genre shows a success.
The trailer for The Nevers provides a first look at several of the series' characters, along with a brief introduction to the mythology of the Touched and the superpowers they possess. And of course, this being a show created by Joss Whedon, the trailer places a heavy emphasis on the fight scenes, particularly those involving Amalia dishing out pain to anyone who gets in her way -- though not without trying to settle their differences politely first.
Created by Joss Whedon, The Nevers stars Laura Donnelly, Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley, Ann Skelly, Ben Chaplin, Pip Torrens, Zackary Momoh, Amy Manson, Nick Frost, Rochelle Neil, Eleanor Tomlinson and Denis O’Hare. The series premieres on HBO in April.
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