With the stigma of movie actors on TV long gone—though arguably, it was Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon on “Big Little Lies” in 2017 that really sent that message home for female actors—the floodgates have really opened for huge stars to be on TV. Returning to the medium, arguably a forerunner to this trend, is Academy Award, Emmy, and Golden Globe-winner Kate Winslet, who starred in Todd Haynes’ 2011 HBO mini-series adaptation of “Mildred Pierce.” That series was so ahead of the curve in terms of the era of peak TV and peak Streaming; it really wasn’t an event that was watched—at least not to the degree shows of this ilk normally are. But Winslet is returning to HBO and the mini-series format with the seven-part limited series “Mare Of Easttown,” which debuts Sunday, April 18 (10:00-11:00 et/pt) on HBO and HBO Max.
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From creator and writer Brad Ingelsby (“The Way Back”), when first announced, Gavin O’Connor (“Warrior,” “The Accountant,” and “The Way Back”) was named as the series director. That eventually shifted, and co-director Craig Zobel (HBO’s “The Leftovers”), ended up directing the entire seven-part limited series (O’Connor moved to exec producer).
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This limited series stars Winslet as Mare Sheehan, a small-town Pennsylvania detective investigating a local murder as life crumbles around her. “Mare of Easttown” is an exploration into the dark side of a close community and an authentic examination of how family and past tragedies can define our present. The series also stars Julianne Nicholson (HBO’s “The Outsider”); three-time Emmy®-winner Jean Smart (Emmy®-nominated for HBO’s “Watchmen”); Angourie Rice (“Black Mirror”) as Siobhan Sheehan; Evan Peters (“American Horror Story”); and Guy Pearce (Emmy®-winner and Golden Globe®-nominee for HBO’s “Mildred Pierce”). Deeper members of the cast include Mackenzie Lansing (The Deuce), Kate Arrington (Billions), Ruby Cruz (Castle Rock), Eisa Davis (Betty), Enid Graham (The Glorias), Justin Hurtt-Dunkley (High Flying Bird), Izzy King, Jack Mulhern (The Society), Anthony Norman (Broadway’s The Prom), Drew Scheid (Halloween) and Madeleine Weinstein (Broadway’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child).
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“Mare of Easttown” is an HBO co-production with wiip; creator/writer/showrunner/executive producer, Brad Ingelsby; director/executive producer, Craig Zobel; executive producer, Paul Lee through wiip; executive producer, Mark Roybal through wiip; executive producer, Kate Winslet; executive producer, Gavin O’Connor; executive producer, Gordon Gray through Mayhem Pictures.
“Mare Of Easttown” airs April 18 on HBO and HBO Max. Watch the first trailer below.