‘The Nevers’ Trailer Teases A Horror-Fantasy About Superpowered Victorian-era Ladies
It looks VERY badass.
HBO has revealed the first trailer for a new six-part drama, The Nevers about three superpowered ladies living in the dying years of Victorian London.
In the trailer for the series, people with superpowers (some useful, some deeply disturbing) are referred to as the Touched. Among the Touched are the main protagonists. There’s Amalia True (Laura Donnelly), a mysterious and quick-fisted widow, and her best friend Penance Adair (Ann Skelly), a brilliant inventor. They appear to be vigilantes, setting out to make a home for others in the Touched community.
The Nevers was originally created by Joss Whedon (The Avengers, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Firefly). However, Whedon left the project a week ago, due to the pressures of working in a pandemic.
#TheNevers First Trailer: Joss Whedon Creates HBO’s Next Genre-Mashing Original Series https://t.co/1NqBC5CnVY pic.twitter.com/J52VHRPTgi
— IndieWire (@IndieWire) February 2, 2021
“While developing and producing The Nevers has been a joyful experience, I realise 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,” he wrote in a statement.
Taking over from Joss Whedon as the series’ showrunner is Philippa Goslett. Goslett is a relatively new British screenwriter and producer. Her credits include films, How to Talk to Girls at Parties, and Mary Magdalene. Other writers attached to the series are also Buffy The Vampire Slayer alums, including Doug Petrie and Jane Espenson. Laurie Penny who was a screenwriter for The Haunting Of Bly Manor and Carnival Row is also involved in the project.
Oh holy shit. It’s real. I’m thrilled beyond belief to have worked on this show and so excited for you all to meet these characters! https://t.co/cYPwvH6Ezq
— Laurie Penny (@PennyRed) February 2, 2021
Whedon has been consistently critiqued for how he writes about feminism through a male gaze. However, with new showrunner Philippa Goslett taking over for him alongside other talented women screenwriters, The Nevers may yet break free from the consistently toothless girl power quality of Whedon projects.
The Nevers is currently set for release in April 2021 when the first 6 episodes will be available to stream via HBO Max, or view on HBO (no doubt Foxtel will pick up the series here in Australia).
Merryana Salem is a proud Wonnarua and Lebanese–Australian writer, critic, teacher, researcher and podcaster on most social media as @akajustmerry. If you want, check out her podcast, GayV Club where she gushes about LGBT rep in media with her best friend. Either way, she hopes you ate something nice today.