Just weeks after the official announcement, the sci-fi series, ‘Earth Abides’ has officially begun filming this Monday in Vancouver, BC, Canada. The six-episode limited series is a wildly imaginative new take on George R. Stewart’s classic sci-fi novel of the same name.
The production will take a little more than two months to officially wrap up on June 18, 2024. Bronwen Hughes is directing the pilot and Episode 2. Rachel Leiterman will direct Episodes 3 and 4, and Stephen Campanelli will direct Episodes 5 and 6. MGM+ has already confirmed that Earth Abides will premiere sometime in late 2024.
Created by showrunner Todd Komarnicki (Sully), the series comes from MGM+ Studios and executive producers Kearie Peak and Lighthouse Productions’ Michael Phillips and Juliana Maio. The series will star Alexander Ludwig (Vikings) as “Ish”, Leah Gibson as Ann, and Jessica Frances Dukes as Emma.
In the series, when a plague of extraordinary ferocity sweeps across the globe, the human species is nearly extinct. In the aftermath, as the huge machine of human civilization gradually and inevitably fails, just a few shattered survivors endure to fight the slide into extinction.
The leading character of “Ish,” is a brilliant but solitary young geologist living a semi-isolated life who awakens from a coma only to find that there is no one left alive but him. A plague of unprecedented virulence has swept the globe, and yes, there are a few scattered survivors, but there are no rules. His mission is to discover the difference between sanctuary and survival, as well as to open his heart to love, in order to find purpose in his existence when the great machine of civilization collapsed.
"It’s very special to reintroduce Earth Abides to fans of George Stewart’s seminal work of science fiction, as well as to a new generation,” said Michael Wright, head of MGM+. “The story’s messages of humanity, hope, and compassion are as relevant today as they were nearly a century ago.”
"It has been an unmitigated thrill to adapt such a seminal sci-fi work, and the themes illuminated by George Stewart 75 years ago could not be more meaningful and timelier for the world we are living in today,” said creator and showrunner Todd Komarnicki. “Despite the chaos and division that greets us every morning in the news, the truth remains that the way forward for society is through unity, compassion, forgiveness, understanding, and grace.”
The series is based on the novel by George R. Stewart, which is published by Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Oscar®-winner Michael Phillips (The Sting), along with Juliana Maio and Kearie Peak, serve as executive producers. Komarnicki serves as writer and showrunner. Additional writers include Karen Janszen, Tony Spiridakis, Evan Hart, and Kyle Stephen.