Lena Waithe, co-star of Master Of None and creator of The Chi, now has another exciting show in the works at Amazon. The streaming giant has placed a 2-season order for THEM, which is being described as a horror event series.
The first season of the anthology will be titled THEM: Covenant, will be set in 1953 and will revolve around Alred and Lucky Emory, a couple who decide to move their family from North Carolina to an all-white Los Angeles neighbourhood. However, the family’s home on a seemingly idyllic street quickly becomes a hellscape where malevolent forces, both real and supernatural, threaten to destroy them.
Little Marvin is penning the series and will also executive produce alongside Waithe, who said of the show:
“Little Marvin‘s script stayed with me for weeks after I read it. He’s written something that’s provocative and terrifying. The first season will speak to how frightening it was to be black in 1953. It will also remind us that being black in 2018 is just as horrifying. This anthology series will examine the cultural divides among all of us and explore us vs THEM in a way we’ve never seen before”.
Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios, also added: “My heart was still pounding an hour after I heard this pitch. The show is edge of your seat scary and addictive while also being provocative and socially relevant”.
Also acting as executive producers will be Roy Lee, Miri Yoon and Michael Connelly.
Amid Amazon’s announcements of shows with enormous budgets like Lord Of The Rings, The Peripheral (from Westworld creators) and a mini-series from Steven Spielberg, it’s refreshing to see that not all their new shows will be haemorrhaging money while aiming to be the next Game Of Thrones.
However perhaps execs have looked at THEM as potentially their answer to Netflix’s popular Black Mirror. Waithe has proven to be one of the sharpest, most innovative minds in television today, and with its anthology structure, THEM has a chance to be an equally captivating, socially conscious horror series. One that might surprise Amazon and capture far more fans than their bigger-budget shows.
#Peace.Love.THEM
