As TBS attempts to enter the popular world of dramas, they've released the first images of the television adaptation of Snowpiercer to coincide with it's presence at Comic-Con. We also have the official synopsis that was released for the new drama series based on the international cult hit movie.
"Set more than seven years after the world has become a frozen wasteland, Snowpiercer centers on the remnants of humanity, who inhabit a gigantic, perpetually-moving train that circles the globe. Class warfare, social injustice and the politics of survival play out in this riveting television adaptation."
New images reveal some of the show's stars. Jennifer Connelly (Only the Brave) is Melanie Cavill, the head of hospitality. The Beautiful Mind actress described her character as, "the voice of the train, she does the announcements to all the passengers." Her crisp blue suit and lavishly decorated room identify her as one of the wealthy passengers, making it fairly easy to assume she will be a major antagonist in the Snowpiercer world, which is being teased this weekend at San Diego Comic Con.
Hamilton's Daveed Diggs stars as Andre Layton, an ex-detective recruited by the train's ruling class to find a killer. The photos feature him in what we assume is the back of the train with close-quarters and (snow?), as well as in handcuffs with Connelly's Cavill. Daveed said of his character:
"Layton is a resident of the tail, which is the lowest class all the way at the back of the train. But he becomes useful for people uptrain."
The TBS series is an adaptation of the French graphic novel "Le Transperceneige." A well-received film version by the same name was released in 2013. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, the film took a realistic and gritty look at class warfare. Trapped on a moving train after the world freezes over, the upper and lower class citizens are completely divided. Chaos ensues when a group of tail-end residents decide to journey to the front. They witness the stark inequality and suffer the violent lengths those in charge are willing to go in order to maintain it. Joon-ho's film was a powerful and visually stunning piece starring Chris Evans (Avengers:Endgame) and Jamie Bell (Rocketman).
Most fans were thrilled to hear there would be a small screen adaptation. But the production has been anything but predictable. Collider reported that In January of 2018, TNT ordered the series with Diggs and Connelly. Josh Friedman (Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles) was attached as writer. Friedman left the project, stating through twitter that he had been fired. Graeme Manson (Orphan Black) replaced him as showrunner, and pilot director Scott Derrikson left soon after for creative differences.
The most ominous change, however, continues to be the move from TNT to TBS. Joon-ho's handling of the material in the film is often hailed for its bleak and grimy aesthetics and thrilling yet poignant tone. Things you don't usually equate with TBS. But as the sitcom and talk show formats continue to dwindle out, WarnerMedia is looking in a new direction for TBS in this streaming-wars era. Attaching the critically acclaimed Orphan Black's co-creator may offer us some reprieve, but the glossed-over, clean appearance of the images doesn't yet have me convinced.
Continue to visit us for updates on Snowpiercer's production and look out for its premier in the spring of 2020. Check out Entertainment Weekly's photos below.
