HBO is set to make a new miniseries called Chernobyl, a five-part series that tells the story of the failed nuclear power plant in Chernobyl that caused a catastrophic disaster in Ukraine and the rest of Europe. And now we have our first piece of casting news, with Mad Men and The Crown actor Jared Harris signing on for the lead role.
Harris will play Valery Legasov, the Soviet scientist chosen by the Kremlin to investigate the accident. The miniseries is written by Craig Mazin and will be directed by Johan Renck and produced by HBO’s President, Miniseries and CINEMAX Programming Kary Antholis and executive produced by Caroline Strauss, Jane Featherstone and Mazin.
“From the moment Craig Mazin pitched us the story, we were convinced that this all-too-true tale of horror and redemption needed to be told,” said Antholis. “It will engage — and enrage — our viewers, as well as audiences around the world.”
Chernobyl is a tale of lies and cowardice, of courage and conviction, of human failure and human nobility. The miniseries focuses on the heartbreaking scope of the nuclear plant disaster that occurred in Ukraine in April 1986, revealing how and why it happened, and telling the shocking, remarkable stories of the heroes who fought and fell.
Originally published July 27, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
