Creating a Shared Universe seems to be all the rage these past few years. The phenomenon that began with Marvel Studios and the Marvel Cinematic Universe led to the creation of the DC Extended Universe, the upcoming Venom Verse, and Universal’s failed attempt at creating a Dark Universe. Several TV Universes like The CW network’s Arrow Verse and Netflix’s now cancelled Defenders Universe are classic examples. Prominent TV Network HBO was late to the party but they seem to be finally catching up. Their upcoming show Lovecraft Country looks like the start of an Occult Universe based on Dark Magic and Lovecraftian Fantasy.
Misha Green is the executive producer and show runner for the newly announced TV Series. Its first episode is set to air on the 16th of August this year. The Show will have ten episodes in its first season with each episode to be aired on a weekly basis on Sundays. The show is also set to be available for subscribers of HBO Max service.
Lovecraft Country is based on a novel written by Matt Ruff. The original novel, also titled Lovecraft Country, is a tale of survival and horror. Jonathan Majors plays the protagonist Atticus Freeman. Atticus is accompanied by Letitia (portrayed by Jurnee Smollett) and Uncle George (Courtney B Vance) as he tries to look for his missing father. The story is set in the early 1950’s America back during the height of the Jim Crow Laws. As the trio travel around the city of Chicago, they encounter racist white supremacists and Lovecraftian monsters from other dimensions, all of whom are thirsty for a taste of Atticus and his friends’ blood.
The show boasts of a rather incredibly power packed ensemble cast. The lead actor Jonathan Majors, who is on a major roll this time of the year! He has appeared alongside Christian Bale in Hostiles, as well as in The Last Black Man in America besides Matthew McConaughey in White Boy Rick. Majors also starred in The Last Black Man in San Francisco, a movie that won the prestigious Sundance Film Festival Award.
Lovecraft Country is going to have some big names associated with it. Jordan Peele will be one of the Executive Producers of the Show. Even J J Abrams has come forward to to help out with the shooting. He too is going to help out in the executive production of Lovecraft Country.
The First teaser poster for the show was released a while ago. It shows the show’s two leading protagonists wrapped all over by tentacles that look like they belong to a Lovecraftian monster. The actors stand in the middle of a two lane road surrounded by grass on both of their flanks.
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HBO has shown keen interest in the occult fantasy department. With the hit TV Show Game of Thrones coming to an end, HBO has already ordered House of the Dragon, a Game of Thrones Prequel series to be part of the HBO Original roster in the years to come. With Lovecraft Country, HBO intends to bring the arcane and mystic horror to modern civilization.
The caption of the twitter post from HBO’s official account reads: “Take Back Your Legacy”. HBO might be aiming for the bull’s eye here. If this show clicks, they might muddy their hands with more such shows. So maybe one day, we really could have a full-fledged HBO Original Occult TV Universe in our midst.
