Dead Ringers (miniseries)

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Dead Ringers
Dead Ringers TV.png
Promotional poster
Genre
Based on Dead Ringers
by David Cronenberg
Twins
by
Developed by Alice Birch
Starring
Composer Murray Gold (all episodes)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
Cinematography
Editors
Running time52–64 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Amazon Prime Video
ReleaseApril 21, 2023 (2023-04-21)

Dead Ringers is an American psychological thriller drama television miniseries developed by Alice Birch. It is based on the 1988 film of the same name by David Cronenberg, itself adapted from the 1977 novel Twins by Bari Wood and Jack Geasland. The series premiered on Amazon Prime Video on April 21, 2023. [2] The series won a Peabody Award at the 84th ceremony in June 2024. [3]

Contents

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Guest

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byTeleplay byOriginal release date
1"One" Sean Durkin Alice Birch April 21, 2023 (2023-04-21)
In Manhattan, twin gynecologists Beverly and Elliot Mantle, dubbed the Mantle twins, frequently commit malpractice at the hospital where they work, while harboring a plan to establish their own independent birthing center. During one of their hospital sessions, Beverly meets Genevieve, a famous actress. Elliot successfully seduces Genevieve while posing as Beverly, which effectively brings Beverly and Genevieve into a relationship, with Genevieve having slight doubts. The twins manage to convince Rebecca Parker, a venture philanthropist, to fund their birthing center scheme, despite earlier failed delivery at the hospital. Beverly is revealed to be schizophrenic while experiencing bleeding in her vulva; Elliot expresses sociopathic behaviors and instigates several sexual encounters with strangers. Elliot has a mental breakdown when Beverly tells her that her relationship with Genevieve is serious.
2"Two"Sean DurkinMing PeifferApril 21, 2023 (2023-04-21)
3"Three" Karena Evans Rachel De-LahayApril 21, 2023 (2023-04-21)
4"Four" Lauren Wolkstein Miriam BattyeApril 21, 2023 (2023-04-21)
5"Five" Karyn Kusama Susan Soon He StantonApril 21, 2023 (2023-04-21)
6"Six"Sean Durkin & Lauren WolksteinAlice BirchApril 21, 2023 (2023-04-21)

Production

Development

In August 2020, it was announced Amazon Prime Video had given a straight-to-series order to a television series based upon David Cronenberg's 1988 film Dead Ringers , with Annapurna Television set to produce, and Alice Birch set to serve as head writer and executive producer. [4] Sean Durkin, Lauren Wolkstein and Karyn Kusama will direct episodes of the series. [5] [6]

Casting

Upon the initial announcement, it was revealed Rachel Weisz would star in the series. [4] In July 2021, it was announced Michael Chernus had joined the cast as a series regular. [7] In August 2021, it was announced Poppy Liu and Britne Oldford had joined the cast as series regulars, with Jeremy Shamos, Jennifer Ehle and Emily Meade set to recur. [8] [9] [10]

Filming

Principal photography began by August 2021 in New York City. [11] [12]

Release

The series had its world premiere at the 2023 Canneseries on April 15, competing for Long Form competition. [13] All six episodes of the series were released on April 21, 2023. [2]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 85% of 87 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10.The website's consensus reads: "If Dead Ringers doesn't wield as cutting a blade as David Cronenberg's original chiller, it's not a pale imitation either, thanks to Rachel Weisz putting on a clinic in doppelgänger duplicity." [14] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 79 out of 100 based on 24 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [15]

The series was included in several mid-year lists of the best TV shows of 2023, such as The Guardian , Time and Variety . [16] [17] [18] Alison Herman of Variety wrote, "Rachel Weisz has the dual role of a lifetime as the Mantle twins. [ . . . ] Gender-swapped reboots too often carry a whiff of sanctimony, but [the series] is as perverse and profane as any great Cronenberg homage. [ . . . ] Dead Ringers is more than a gimmick; it’s a cerebral spin on a nightmare." [18]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2023 Peabody Awards EntertainmentDead RingersWon [19]
2024 Astra TV Awards Best Actress in a Streaming Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Rachel Weisz Nominated [20]
Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Nominated [21]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Jody Lee Lipes (for "One")Nominated [22]
Satellite Awards Best Actress in a Miniseries, Limited Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television Rachel WeiszWon [23]

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References

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