Posted in: HBO, Trailer, TV | Tagged: ben mendelsohn, bleeding cool, books, cable, Cynthia Erivo, drama, HBO, horror, novels, stephen king, streaming, television, The Outsider, thriller, tv

"The Outsider" Episodes 1 & 2: Stephen King, Ben Mendelsohn & Jason Bateman Examine Series Premiere

As the "Stephen King-ification" of the world rolls along to our total and utter liking, HBO's adaptation of the author's bestselling supernatural novel The Outsider finally reached its January 12, 2020, premiere date – and what a two-episode premiere ("Fish in a Barrel"/"Roanoke") it was! Making it a point of not spoiling it for myself by reading the book or checking spoilers online, I'm still secuting my jaw from up off the floor by what went down in the second episode – was not expecting the A Time to Kill vibe.

King, star Ben Mendelsohn, and co-star/executive producer Jason Bateman are offering their thoughts and insights into what we witnessed – and offer clues to what still lies ahead:

To get fans ready for the premiere, the cable network spoke with director and executive producer Jason Bateman about his approach to adapting the novel for the screen. Following that, viewers have a chance to hear from the cast and creative directly from the red carpet – with some thoughts on what fans will be excited to see:

More than a month after viewers were treated to the official trailer for the upcoming drama series (see below) and four days before its debut, King, stars Mendelsohn and Cynthia Erivo, and more shared their thoughts on adapting the work, the main players at play, and what viewers can expect when the worlds of what we see and what we believe – and what we fear – collide:

Andrew Bernstein (Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, The Umbrella Academy) is on board to direct several episodes (along with Bateman) and serve as executive producer. With Mendelsohn set to star and produce, the project hails from Richard Price (The Night Of), director-producer Jack Bender (Mr. Mercedes), Bateman's Aggregate Films, Temple Hill Entertainment, and MRC.

So without further ado, here's your look at HBO's The Outsider:

Adapted by Price from the Charles Scribners and Sons-published 2018 novel, the 10-episode series follows police detective Ralph Anderson (Mendelsohn), as he sets out to investigate the mutilated body of 11-year-old Frankie Peterson found in the Georgia woods.

The mysterious circumstances surrounding this horrifying crime leads Ralph, still grieving the recent death of his own son, to bring in unorthodox private investigator Holly Gibney (Erivo), whose uncanny abilities he hopes will help explain the unexplainable.

Meanwhile, an insidious supernatural force edges its way into the case…

HBO's The Outsider also stars Bill Camp, Mare Winningham, Paddy Considine, Julianne Nicholson, Yul Vázquez, Jeremy Bobb, Marc Menchaca. Hettienne Park, Michael Esper, Derek Cecil, and Max Beesley.

Price executive produces with Bernstein, Bateman, and Michael Costigan via Aggregate Films, Marty Bowen for Temple Hill Entertainment, and Bender. MRC serves as the studio on the project, produced by Bateman's Aggregate Films and Temple Hill Entertainment.

An unspeakable crime. A confounding investigation. At a time when the King brand has never been stronger, he has delivered one of his most unsettling and compulsively readable stories.

An eleven-year-old boy's violated corpse is found in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City's most popular citizens. He is Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, and father of two girls. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Maitland has an alibi, but Anderson and the district attorney soon add DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad.

As the investigation expands and horrifying answers begin to emerge, King's propulsive story kicks into high gear, generating strong tension and almost unbearable suspense. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face? When the answer comes, it will shock you as only Stephen King can.

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