At long last, we now have some key details about the Wachowskis' planned Netflix series Sense8, including some interesting tidbits about the plot, and the ensemble cast, which will include Daryl Hannah and Lost's Naveen Andrews, along with eight actors whose roles will be tied very closely together, though the characters are spread out across the globe.
Deadline spoke with J. Michael Straczynski, who's executive producing Sense8 alongside Andy and Lana Wachowski, and he offered up some interesting details about the plot of the series, which is expected to air on Netflix sometime next year. Here's how Straczynski describes Sense8:
The series follows eight characters around the world who, in the aftermath of a tragic death, find themselves linked to each other mentally and emotionally. They can not only see and talk to each other as though they were in the same place, they have access to each other’s deepest secrets. Not only must they figure out what happened and why and what it means for the future of humanity, they must do so while being hunted by an organization out to capture, kill or vivisect them.
Sense8's plot sounds like the perfect concept to play out in a binge-watched series, where viewers can set their own pace, especially if it builds up a lot of suspense and takes its time introducing us to each of the eight connected characters.
So who are the sense-eight characters whose minds are connected? If Deadline's intel is accurate, none of them will be played by Naveen Andrews or Daryl Hannah. The same applies to Freema Agyeman, Alfonso Herrera, Erendira Ibarra and Terrence Mann, who are all among the cast, though no specifics about their roles were mentioned. Perhaps some or all of them will be among those trying to hunt down the titular "8." Speaking of whom, those roles go to Brian J. Smith, Tuppence Middleton, Aml Ameen, Tena Desae, Doona Bae, Max Riemelt, Jamie Clayton and Miguel Silvestre.
When they say international cast, they really mean it. These four male and four female actors come from all over the globe. Let's break the eight down two by (random) two...
Tuppence Middleton, Miguel Silvestre...
Tuppence Middleton is a U.K. actress with ties to the Wachowskis already, courtesy of a role in their upcoming feature film Jupiter Ascending. She's also appeared in the 2013 film Trance and The Love Punch, and has a role in Morten Tyldum's upcoming film The Imitation Game, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley.
Meanwhile, Miguel Angel Silvestre hails from Spain, so most (if not all) of his credits are Spanish movies and TV shows, including Spanish TV series Velvet, as well as films Dark Impulse, All is Silence and Scorpian in Love.
Tena Desae, Max Reimelt...
Indian actress Teena Desae got her start in Bollywood with Yeh Faasley, and then in 2011 she took the role of Sunaina in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. She's on board to reprise that role in the sequel.
Max Riemelt is from Germany, and thusly has mostly German credits, including an appearance in a TV show called The Last Cop, and films Forgotten, The Fourth State, Before the Fall and The Wave.
Jamie Clayton, Aml Ameen...
Though Jamie Clayton is an America actor, her credits are limited to a handful of roles, most of which are on the small screen. She was in two episodes of Hung in Season 3, and she co-hosted VH1's makeover series TRANSform Me. She also appeared in Are We There Yet? for one episode.
British actor Aml Ameen has a substantial list of credits, which includes roles in Harry's Law, Lee Daniels' The Butler, Red Tails and coming up, the role of Alby in the feature adaptation of The Maze Runner.
Doona Bae, Brian J. Smith...
Like Middleton, Doona Bae also has ties to the Wachowskis not only with a part in Jupiter Ascending, but also Cloud Atlas. Bae hails from South Korea and her credits include the 2006 horror film The Host and Korean TV shows God of Study and Gloria.
Finally, there's American actor Brian J. Smith, who's had appearances in Defiance, Blue Bloods and Person of Interest. He also played Max Harding on Gossip Girl and Lt. Matthew Scott on Stargate Universe.
