Limited Series MRS. FLETCHER debuts 28 October exclusively on HBO GO and HBO

Starring Kathryn Hahn (Emmy® nominee for “Transparent”; HBO’s forthcoming “I Know This Much Is True”) in the title role, MRS. FLETCHER, a seven-episode limited series debuting same time as the U.S. on Monday 28 October 10.30am (11.30am from 4 November), is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Tom Perrotta. The episode encores at 11.30pm the same day on HBO. The series is a dual coming-of-age story chronicling the personal and sexual journeys of an empty-nest mother and her college freshman son, who both embrace their newfound freedom with mixed results.

As the series begins, Eve Fletcher (Kathryn Hahn), a mid-40s single mom who works as the executive director of a senior centre, drops her only child off at college and returns home to a very empty house. Meanwhile, Eve’s son Brendan (Jackson White), a popular (though sometimes clueless) jock, finds college is a little more complicated than he expected and struggles to make connections with his more socially and politically aware fellow students. As mother and son find themselves alone for the first time, this sharp, provocative series navigates themes of parenthood, sexuality, love, and identity in a cultural moment when attitudes about gender and sex are evolving rapidly.

https://youtu.be/k924ndfzufw

The cast also includes Owen Teague, Katie Kershaw, Domenick Lombardozzi, Cameron Boyce, Jen Richards and Casey Wilson.

MRS. FLETCHER was created by Tom Perrotta; based on the book written by Tom Perrotta; executive producer/writer Tom Perrotta; executive producer Helen Estabrook.

HBO is available on SKYcable Ch. 54 SD/Ch. 168 HD (For Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Lipa-Batangas) or on Ch. 402 SD/710 HD (For Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo). SKYdirect subscribers can watch it on Ch. 22 HD. HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or fill in your details here.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

Production begins in Taiwan for brand new HBO Asia Original Series Adventure of the Ring

HBO Asia announced today that principal photography has begun in Taiwan for the eight-part hour-long Mandarin romantic comedy series, ADVENTURE OF THE RING. Shooting will take place in Taipei till October 2019. Set and filmed in Taiwan, the series is scheduled to premiere next year across HBO Asia’s 23 territories on their on-air, online and on-demand platforms.

“Following the success of HBO Asia’s Mandarin Original Series including the award-winning THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC and THE WORLD BETWEEN US, we are pleased to bring yet another Mandarin production, ADVENTURE OF THE RING, to our audiences in Asia and around the world,” said Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia. “The heart-warming tales in HBO Asia’s first romantic comedy series will resonate with many.”

ADVENTURE OF THE RING tells the stories of different couples who come in contact with an engagement ring. On a morning commute, the ring is misplaced by a man on the day of his proposal, threatening to disrupt all his plans. Chris Wang 《宥勝》 (“Time Traveler”, “Love Family”) plays Yi Zhi, the man who loses the ring and Allison Lin《林予晞》 (HBO Asia Original “The World Between Us”, “Family Time”) is Lisa, Yi Zhi’s intended bride. As the search for the ring continues, Yi Zhi and Lisa re-examine what love means to them as the ring travels through the hands of other couples and impact their lives.

L-R Kitamura Tayoharu,Allison Lin,Kao Ming-Hsiu (Deputy Director-General,Ministry of Culture),Jonathan Spink,Leon Lu (Chairman,Good Image),Chris Wang,Nelson Yeh

Helmed by Nelson Yeh 《葉天倫》 (“Far And Away”, “Mad King Of Taipei”) and directed by Golden Bell nominated director, Kitamura Tayoharu《北村豐晴》 (“Running Man”, “Q Series – Love Of Sandstorm”), the series stars Chris Wang 《宥勝》 (“Time Traveler”, “Love Family”) and Allison Lin《林予晞》 (HBO Asia Original “The World Between Us”, “Family Time”).

This series is produced in partnership with Good Image with support from The Ministry of Culture of Taiwan, Taipei Film Commission and Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation.

HBO Asia started producing Original productions in 2012. To date, HBO Asia has aired 16 Original productions including award-winning series, movies and documentaries such as HBO Asia’s first Japanese drama series MISS SHERLOCK; the network’s first original documentary, THE TALWARS: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS; its first Chinese language drama series, THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC; two seasons of the network’s dark fantasy series HALFWORLDS; and a horror mini-series, GRACE.

Later this year, HBO Asia will premiere the second season of the award-winning series, THE TEENAGE PSYCHIC; a brand-new anthology series FOOD LORE, heartfelt stories told against the backdrop of Asian cuisine, as well as INVISIBLE STORIES, a drama series about the extraordinary stories hidden behind ordinary people.

HBO is available on SKYcable Ch. 54 SD/Ch. 168 HD (For Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Lipa-Batangas) or on Ch. 402 SD/710 HD (For Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo). SKYdirect subscribers can watch it on Ch. 22 HD. HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or fill in your details here.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

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HBO’s SUCESSION Returns For A Second Season On 12 August

Created by Emmy®, Oscar® and WGA nominee Jesse Armstrong (“In the Loop”), SUCCESSION launches its ten-episode second season same time as the U.S. on Monday, 12 August at 9am exclusively on HBO GO and HBO with new episodes airing weekly. The episode encores on the same day at 10pm on HBO. Beginning where season one dramatically left off, season two follows the Roy family as they struggle to retain control of their empire, and while the future looks increasingly uncertain, it is the past that threatens to ultimately destroy them.

https://youtu.be/sP8MWaSLPkk

The season two cast includes Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Hiam Abbass, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Alan Ruck, Nicholas Braun, Matthew Macfadyen, Peter Friedman, Rob Yang, J. Smith Cameron, Dagmara Dominczyk and Arian Moayed. Holly Hunter, Cherry Jones, Danny Huston, Jeannie Berlin and Fisher Stevens join the cast for season two. Returning guest stars include James Cromwell and Harriet Walter.

SUCCESSION has been nominated for five Primetime Emmy® awards, including Outstanding Drama Series.

Episodes include:

Season 2, episode 1: “The Summer Palace”
Premiere date: Monday, 12 August at 9am on HBO GO and HBO
Still addled from the events in England, Kendall (Jeremy Strong) tries to make amends with his dad for his takeover attempt betrayal. Logan (Brian Cox) receives some unvarnished advice from his financial banker about the next best move for Waystar Royco. As Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) maneuvers for a new position in the company, Shiv (Sarah Snook) tries to determine whether Logan is playing mind games regarding his successor. Written by Jesse Armstrong; directed by Mark Mylod.

Season 2, episode 2: “Vaulter”
Premiere date: Monday, 19 August at 9am on HBO GO and HBO
Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Kendall (Jeremy Strong) do a “routine health check” of a new media brand to help Vaulter to determine the future of the company. Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) tasks Greg (Nicholas Braun) with sniffing out waste at ATN, as Greg wonders if the divisive media outlet is the right fit for him. Connor (Alan Ruck) and Willa (Justine Lupe) host a soiree to mark their return to New York. Shiv (Sarah Snook) brings Tom in the loop about her future at Waystar and with Gil’s (Eric Bogosian) campaign. Written by Jon Brown; directed by Andrij Parekh.

Season 2, episode 3: “Hunting”
Premiere date: Monday, 26 August at 9am on HBO GO and HBO
Logan (Brian Cox) informs his skeptical management team of his plan to make another attempt to acquire Pierce, a rival media company and one of the most respected names in news, and brings back Frank (Peter Friedman) to work on the deal. Convinced the acquisition is a terrible idea, Shiv (Sarah Snook) asks Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) to deliver the message to Logan at a corporate retreat in Hungary. Greg (Nicholas Braun) worries his pre-meeting with a Logan biographer puts his standing with the family at risk. Connor’s (Alan Ruck) presidential announcement irritates Logan. Written by Tony Roche; directed by Andrij Parekh.

Season 2, episode 4: “Safe Room”
Premiere date: Monday, 2 September at 9am on HBO GO and HBO
Roman (Kieran Culkin) begins a six-week management training program in the Parks division and is irritated about spending so much time with “normals.” Logan (Brian Cox) brings Shiv in for a day at Waystar, raising suspicions with Kendall (Jeremy Strong) and Gerri (J. Smith-Cameron). Connor (Alan Ruck) and Willa (Justine Lupe) attend the funeral of a family friend with a complicated past. Logan and Kendall arrange a covert meeting with PGM CEO Rhea Jarrell (Holly Hunter), as a controversy surrounding a star anchor leads to a day of chaos at ATN headquarters. Written by Georgia Pritchett; directed by Robert Pulcini & Shari Springer Berman.

Season 2, episode 5: “Tern Haven”
Premiere date: Monday, 9 September at 9am on HBO GO and HBO
Logan (Brian Cox) attempts to solidify his buyout of PGM at a weekend retreat at the Pierce family home, where Shiv (Sarah Snook), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Connor (Alan Ruck) veer from their carefully orchestrated roles. As the Pierces question whether an alliance with Waystar Royco will tarnish their legacy, Kendall (Jeremy Strong) makes his case to Naomi Pierce (Annabelle Dexter-Jones) during a drug-filled night. Written by Will Tracy; directed by Mark Mylod.

Season two credits: SUCCESSION was created by Jesse Armstrong; executive produced by Jesse Armstrong, Adam McKay, Frank Rich, Kevin Messick, Will Ferrell, Jane Tranter, Mark Mylod, Tony Roche and Scott Ferguson. Jesse Armstrong serves as showrunner.

HBO is available on SKYcable Ch. 54 SD/Ch. 168 HD (For Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Lipa-Batangas) or on Ch. 402 SD/710 HD (For Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo). SKYdirect subscribers can watch it on Ch. 22 HD. HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or fill in your details here.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

 

HBO Comedy Series Silicon Valley returns for sixth and final season

The HBO comedy series SILICON VALLEY returns for its seven-episode, sixth and final season this October exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. A collaboration between Mike Judge and Alec Berg, the Emmy®-winning and Golden Globe-nominated series takes a comedic look at the modern-day epicenter of the high-tech gold rush, where the people most qualified to succeed are the least capable of handling success.

The series stars Thomas Middleditch as Richard, Zach Woods as Jared, Kumail Nanjiani as Dinesh, Martin Starr as Gilfoyle, Amanda Crew as Monica, Jimmy O. Yang as Jian-Yang, Suzanne Cryer as Laurie Bream, Matt Ross as Gavin Belson and Josh Brener as Big Head.

The Atlantic hailed the show’s fifth season as “exciting” and “hilarious,” while A.V. Club praised the series as having “one of the best comedic ensembles on television.”

Judge and Berg serve as executive producers, writers and directors. Executive produced by Clay Tarver, Lew Morton, Michael Rotenberg, Tom Lassally and Jim Kleverweis; co-executive produced by Ron Weiner, Sarah Walker, and Daisy Gardner. Created by Mike Judge & John Altschuler & Dave Krinsky.

HBO is available on SKYcable Ch. 54 SD/Ch. 168 HD (For Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Lipa-Batangas) or on Ch. 402 SD/710 HD (For Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo). SKYdirect subscribers can watch it on Ch. 22 HD. HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or fill in your details here.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

HBO renews original drama series EUPHORIA for a second season

HBO has renewed the drama series EUPHORIA for a second season, it was announced today by Francesca Orsi, EVP, HBO Programming.

“Euphoria creator Sam Levinson has built an incredible world with an extraordinary cast led by the supremely talented Zendaya. We are so grateful that he chose HBO as the home for this groundbreaking series,” said Orsi. “We look forward to following these complex characters as their journeys continue through the challenging world they inhabit.”

Kicking off its eight-episode first season on 17 June and currently debuting new episodes same time as the U.S. every Monday at 10am exclusively on HBO GO and HBO (SKYcable ch 54 SD | 168 HD). EUPHORIA stars Zendaya (“Spider-Man: Homecoming”) who heads the ensemble cast of the show, which follows a group of high school students as they navigate a minefield of drugs, sex, identity, trauma, social media, love and friendship. The series is created and written by Sam Levinson (HBO’s “The Wizard of Lies”), who also directs five episodes of the first season.

EUPHORIA ranks as HBO’s youngest skewing drama series on the network’s digital platforms. In addition to delivering a series high for its premiere telecast, EUPHORIA continues to grow every week on HBO’s digital platforms. The series premiere night has already delivered over 5.5 million viewers across HBO’s platforms in the U.S.

EUPHORIA puts a fresh spin on the coming-of-age narrative, exploring the teenage landscape of substance-enhanced parties and anxiety-ridden day-to-day life with empathy and candor. The series follows 17-year-old Rue Bennett (Zendaya), a drug addict fresh from rehab, who’s struggling to make sense of her future. Her life changes dramatically when she meets Jules Vaughn (Hunter Schafer), a girl who recently moved to town following her parents’ divorce, and like Rue is searching for where she belongs.

The cast for the first season of EUPHORIA includes Zendaya, Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud, Eric Dane, Alexa Demie, Jacob Elordi, Barbie Ferreira, Nika King, Storm Reid, Hunter Schafer, Algee Smith and Sydney Sweeney.

Hollywood Reporter hails EUPHORIA as “boundary-pushing, real and exceptionally realized,” while Variety praises the series as having an “undeniable pull that makes it too intriguing to ignore.” TV Guide calls it “lusciously shot,” and getting “more and more jaw-dropping and gorgeous as it goes on.” Indiewire notes “Zendaya is exceptional at every turn,” and Rolling Stone praises the direction as “visually striking throughout, full of moments lit to look both menacing and intoxicating.”

Season one credits: EUPHORIA was created and written by Sam Levinson, who also serves as executive producer; executive producers Ravi Nandan, Kevin Turen, Drake, Future the Prince,  Hadas Mozes Lichtenstein, Ron Leshem, Daphna Levin, Tmira Yardeni, Mirit Toovi, Yoram Mokady, Gary Lennon and Jim Kleverweis; transgender consultant, Scott Turner Schofield; consultant, Jeremy O. Harris. Produced in partnership with A24 and based on the Israeli series of the same name, which was created by Ron Leshem and Daphna Levin, from HOT.

About HBO GO

HBO GO is an internet-based service that allows subscribers unlimited access to stream and download anytime, anywhere, a wide range of Hollywood blockbusters, all-time favourite kids’ programmes as well as unedited original versions of all HBO Original content from the U.S. and Asia, at the same time as they premiere. Live TV streaming of HBO Asia’s bouquet of channels are also available. The service is accessible on all mobile devices through the HBO GO App and on computers.

In the Philippines, HBO GO is exclusively available to SKYcable subscribers. For more information, visit mysky.com.ph/hbogo.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

Production begins for HBO Asia’s newest Original Invisible Stories

HBO Asia announced today that principal photography for its latest Asia Original, INVISIBLE STORIES, has begun for the six-episode half-hour drama series. INVISIBLE STORIES, a series that shines light into dark corners and tells untold stories from the heartlands and a fictional neighbourhood housing estate in multi-cultural Singapore, is scheduled to premiere later this year on HBO Asia’s on-air, online and on-demand platforms.

INVISIBLE STORIES brings to life stories of everyday people – their joy, their struggles, their sacrifice, with each episode following one neighbour as he or she navigates through everyday life and its challenges. These stories include a man who is a taxi driver by day and a spiritual medium by night; and a banker who is a father and husband but harbours a secret that comes to life late at night.

Featuring a regional cast from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore, Golden Horse Award winner Yeo Yann Yann (‘ILO ILO’, ‘881’ and ‘Singapore Dreaming’) and Taiwanese newcomer Devin Pan headline the first episode which revolves around the lives of a mother and her autistic son.

“With INVISIBLE STORIES, we are pleased to be able to bring to life these, seldom told, intimate stories of people who walk amongst us but are often invisible as we go about our busy lives every day,” said Jonathan Spink, CEO of HBO Asia. “HBO Asia is glad to once again work with talented cast and crew from Singapore and the region to bring local stories to a global stage.”

Created by Singaporean Ler Jiyuan who also wrote the series with a team of local writers, INVISIBLE STORIES is produced by Singapore-based company Birdmandog as part of HBO Asia’s partnership with the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA). The two-and-a-half-year collaboration aims to develop the drama production capabilities of Singapore’s media industry and talent, where HBO Asia will conduct training workshops and work with local talent and companies on HBO Asia Original productions.

HBO is available on SKYcable Ch. 54 SD/Ch. 168 HD (For Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Lipa-Batangas) or on Ch. 402 SD/710 HD (For Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo). SKYdirect subscribers can watch it on Ch. 22 HD. HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or visit www.mysky.com.ph.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Show details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

HBO’s Emmy-winning series Little Big Lies returns June 10 on HBO and HBO Go

HBO Emmy®-winning series BIG LITTLE LIES returns same time as the U.S. on Monday, 10 June at 9am, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO. The episode repeats on the same day at 10pm on HBO. New episodes premiere every Monday at the same time. The second season of this subversive, darkly comedic drama will explore the malignancy of lies, the durability of friendships, the fragility of marriage and the vicious ferocity of sound parenting. Relationships will fray, loyalties will erode…the potential for emotional and bodily injury shall loom.

The Monterey Five – Madeline (Reese Witherspoon), Celeste (Nicole Kidman), Jane (Shailene Woodley), Renata (Laura Dern) and Bonnie (Zoë Kravitz) – are joined by Celeste’s visiting mother-in-law, Mary Louise (Meryl Streep), and their husbands, Ed (Adam Scott), Nathan (James Tupper) and Gordon (Jeffrey Nordling), in this seven-episode season.

Created by David E. Kelley; teleplays by David E. Kelley; story by David E. Kelley and Liane Moriarty; based on the novel by Liane Moriarty; directed by Andrea Arnold; executive producers, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, David E. Kelley, Andrea Arnold, Jean-Marc Vallée, Bruna Papandrea, Per Saari, Gregg Fienberg, Nathan Ross and Liane Moriarty.

HBO is available on SKYcable Ch. 54 SD/Ch. 168 HD (For Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Lipa-Batangas) or on Ch. 402 SD/710 HD (For Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo). SKYdirect subscribers can watch it on Ch. 22 HD. HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or visit www.mysky.com.ph.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Series details and image provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

 

Five-part miniseries CHERNOBYL premieres on HBO and HBO Go on May 7

Premiering the same time as the U.S. on HBO GO and HBO on Tuesday 7 May 9am, CHERNOBYL dramatizes the 1986 nuclear accident, one of the worst human-made catastrophes in history, and tells the story of the brave men and women who made incredible sacrifices to save Europe from unimaginable disaster, all the while battling a culture of disinformation.

Airing every Tuesday at 9am, with a same day encore at 10pm, the five-part miniseries stars Jared Harris (“The Crown”; Emmy nominee for “Mad Men”), Stellan Skarsgård (“Melancholia,” “Good Will Hunting”) and Emily Watson (Oscar nominee for “Hilary and Jackie” and “Breaking the Waves”).

CHERNOBYL, was written, created and executive produced by Craig Mazin (“The Huntsman: Winter’s War”) and directed by Johan Renck (“Breaking Bad”); produced by Sister Pictures, The Mighty Mint and Word Games as an HBO/Sky co-production. Carolyn Strauss (Emmy winner for “Game of Thrones”) and Jane Featherstone (“Broadchurch”) executive produce; Johan Renck and Chris Fry (“Humans”) co-executive produce; Sanne Wohlenberg (“Black Mirror”) produces.

CHER_101_071218_LD_00114

On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, Soviet Union suffered a massive explosion that released radioactive material across Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, and as far as Scandinavia and western Europe.

Jared Harris portrays Valery Legasov, a leading Soviet nuclear physicist. As part of the response team, he is one of the first to grasp the scope of the unparalleled disaster that has occurred.

Jared Harris

Stellan Skarsgård plays Soviet Deputy Prime Minister Boris Shcherbina, who is assigned by the Kremlin to lead the government commission on Chernobyl in the hours immediately following the accident.

Stellan Skarsgard

Emily Watson portrays Ulana Khomyuk, a Soviet nuclear physicist committed to solving the mystery of what led to the Chernobyl disaster.

Emily Watson

The miniseries also stars: Paul Ritter (“Lovesick”) as Chernobyl deputy chief engineer Anatoly Dyatlov; Jessie Buckley (“Beast”) as Lyudmilla Ignatenko, a Pripyat resident married to a firefighter on the first response team; Adrian Rawlins (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”) as Chernobyl chief engineer Nikolai Fomin; and Con O’Neill (“Harlots”) as plant director Viktor Bryukhanov.

The cast also includes: Sam Troughton (“The Ritual”), Adam Nagaitis (“The Terror”), Barry Keoghan (“Dunkirk”), Ralph Ineson (“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”), Mark Lewis Jones (“Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi”), Fares Fares (HBO’s “Westworld”) and David Dencik (“McMafia”).

Writer, creator and executive producer Craig Mazin began researching the Chernobyl disaster in 2014, using a wide variety of materials, including several books and government reports from inside and outside of the Soviet Union. He spoke to nuclear scientists to learn how a reactor works, and interviewed former Soviet citizens to gain a better sense of the culture in 1986.

Mazin also read a great number of first-person accounts, which helped bring an additional layer of authenticity and humanity to the story. He explains, “When you’re reading the personal stories of people who were there – people who lived near the plant, people who worked at the plant, people who were sent to Chernobyl as part of the effort to clean it up – in those individual accounts, that’s really where the story came alive.”

Principal photography for CHERNOBYL took place in Lithuania and Ukraine, with a creative team including: director of photography Jakob Ihre (“Thelma”); production designer Luke Hull (“Howards End”); editors, Jinx Godfrey (“The Theory of Everything”) and Simon Smith (“Endeavor”); costume designer Odile Dicks-Mireaux (“Brooklyn”); casting directors Nina Gold and Robert Sterne (both two-time Emmy® winners for HBO’s “Game of Thrones”); and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir (“Trapped”).

Episodes include:

Episode 1: “1:23:45”

Premiere date: Tuesday, 7 May at 9am on HBO GO and HBO

April 26, 1986, Ukrainian SSR. Plant workers and firefighters put their lives on the line to control a catastrophic 1986 explosion at a Soviet nuclear power plant.

Written by Craig Mazin; directed by Johan Renck.

Episode 2: “Please Remain Calm”

Debut date: Tuesday, 14 May at 9am on HBO GO and HBO

With untold millions at risk after the Chernobyl explosion, nuclear physicist Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson) makes a desperate attempt to reach Valery Legasov (Jared Harris), a leading Soviet nuclear physicist, and warn him about the threat of second explosion that could devastate the continent.

Written by Craig Mazin; directed by Johan Renck.

Episode 3: “Open Wide, O Earth”

Debut date: Tuesday, 21 May at 9am on HBO GO and HBO

Lyudmilla Ignatenko (Jessie Buckley), a Pripyat resident, ignores warning about her firefighter husband’s (Adam Nagaitis) contamination; Valery Legasov (Jared Harris) lays out a decontamination plan, complete with human risks.

Written by Craig Mazin; directed by Johan Renck.

Episode 4: “The Happiness of All Mankind”

Debut date: Tuesday, 28 May at 9am on HBO GO and HBO

Valery Legasov (Jared Harris) and Soviet Deputy Prime Minister Boris Shcherbina (Stellan Skarsgård) consider using lunar rovers to remove radioactive debris, while Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson) faces government hurdles in determining the truth about the cause of the explosion.

Written by Craig Mazin; directed by Johan Renck.

Episode 5: “Vichnaya Pamyat” (finale)

Debut date: Tuesday, 4 June at 9am on HBO GO and HBO

Valery Legasov (Jared Harris), Boris Shcherbina (Stellan Skarsgård) and Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson) risk their lives and reputations to expose the truth about Chernobyl.

Written by Craig Mazin; directed by Johan Renck.

HBO is available on SKYcable Ch. 54 SD/Ch. 168 HD (For Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Lipa-Batangas) or on Ch. 402 SD/710 HD (For Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo). SKYdirect subscribers can watch it on Ch. 22 HD. HBO Original Series as well as live channels are also available for streaming on HBO GO which is exclusively available to SKY subscribers. To subscribe, call 418-0000 or your local SKY office or visit www.mysky.com.ph.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Series details and images provided by HBO in a recent press release.

Check out my posts on HBO shows:

SKY treats subscribers to exclusive Game of Thrones events

SKY subscribers who are die-hard Game of Thrones fans were recently given one-of-a-kind experiences: an ice skating spectacle inspired by HBO’s phenomenal hit TV series and an exclusive live screening of the final season premiere in one of the trendiest establishments in Poblacion, Makati.

Fire or Ice, SM Skating Rink

GOTs8 Premiere, Johnnie Walker House

GOTs8 Premiere, Johnnie Walker House

On April 12 and 13, they witnessed Fire or Ice: A Musical Spectacle at SM Megamall’s Skating Rink.

There, they were treated to the outstanding performances by the country’s top figure skaters Joel Minas and Sofia Guidote.  Minas, who has bagged over 30 gold medals in various local and international skating competitions, masterfully brought King in the North Jon Snow to life on the ice. Guidote, on the other hand, in her role as Mother of Dragons Danaerys Targaryen, displayed the grace and athleticism that helped her bag the gold medal for the third year in a row at the Philippine National Competition.  Together, they gave absolutely stunning performances.

Fire or Ice, SM Skating Rink

Fire or Ice, SM Skating Rink

Fire or Ice, SM Skating Rink

This remarkable event was made possible by SKY’s partnership with SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc.

On April 15, selected SKY subscribers were invited to an exclusive live viewing party at the Johnnie Walker House in Poblacion.  SKY partnered with Diageo, the company behind the Johnnie Walker brand, in hosting the event.  Guests were treated to a sumptuous breakfast with food items that whimsically reference Game of Thrones characters and locations.  Ten bottles of White Walker, Johnnie Walker’s limited edition Scotch whiskey inspired by the show’s most chillingly enigmatic of characters, were also raffled off to lucky winners.

GOTs8 Premiere, Johnnie Walker House

GOTs8 Premiere, Johnnie Walker House

GOTs8 Premiere, Johnnie Walker House

GOTs8 Premiere, Johnnie Walker House

GOTs8 Premiere, Johnnie Walker House

GOTs8 Premiere, Johnnie Walker House

Of course, the real highlight of the event was the live screening of the Season 8’s premiere episode in full high definition on HBO HD (SKYcable ch 168), all the better for attendees to see (and obsess over) every detail as they happen onscreen.

During both events, attendees were asked to choose their side: vote for their choice on who will sit on the Iron Throne and rule over the seven kingdoms by the series’ end.

Fire or Ice, SM Skating Rink

Fire or Ice, SM Skating Rink

They were also serenaded by 4G String Quartet who performed their own haunting renditions of the show’s theme songs and musical scoring.

Fire or Ice, SM Skating Rink

Fire or Ice, SM Skating Rink

GOTs8 Premiere, Johnnie Walker House

Cosplayers from Westeros Cosplay PH also graced the events, bringing the show’s lead characters to life, and gamely posed with the show’s fans for selfies and photo opps.

Fire or Ice, SM Skating Rink

Fire or Ice, SM Skating Rink

Fire or Ice, SM Skating Rink

With these two events, it is certainly a great time for a GOT fan to be a SKY subscriber!

Fire or Ice, SM Skating Rink

Fire or Ice, SM Skating Rink

Game of Thrones fans can look forward to more immersions into Westeros with the upcoming SKY Alive event at the SM Mall of Asia on April 27 and 28.  Here, they can participate in games and contests, interact with their favorite Game of Thrones characters through the attending cosplayers, be entertained by more performances by 4G String Quartet, and experience what it’s like to sit on the Iron Throne!

New episodes of the eighth and final season of GAME OF THRONES will air in Asia same time as the U.S. every Monday at 9am, with a same day encore at 10pm, exclusively on HBO GO and HBO (SKYcable ch 54 SD | 168 HD in Metro Manila).

Based on the popular book series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” by George R.R. Martin, this hit Emmy®-winning fantasy series chronicles an epic struggle for power in a vast and violent kingdom. Members of the ensemble cast for the seventh season included Emmy® and Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Aidan Gillen, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams. Season seven credits: executive producers, David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Carolyn Strauss, Frank Doelger, Bernadette Caulfield; co-executive producers, Bryan Cogman, Guymon Casady, Vince Gerardis, George R.R. Martin.

HBO GO is HBO’s online streaming service that gives subscribers a chance to watch and enjoy the world’s best movies, HBO Originals and more through the website or the mobile app. Subscription to the app also gives SKY subscribers free access to cable channels – HBO Hits, HBO Family, and HBO Signature.  To register your SKY account and subscribe to HBO GO, visit mysky.com.ph/hbogo.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Video Credits: SKYcable on Youtube

All other images are mine.

Check out my other recent posts on Game of Thrones:

 

Catch-up on GOT’s previous seasons via HBO GO on SKY

An epic throwback awaits “Game of Thrones” fans as SKY exclusively offers its subscribers free access to HBO GO, giving them a chance to relive the phenomenal television series anytime, anywhere until April 15.

The offer will delight all kinds of viewers, whether they’re new to the world of Westeros or already hooked to the behemoth series, as all seven seasons are available for streaming.

As the show’s previous season saw the Night King heading to Eastwatch with the undead Viserion and the White Walkers marching South, this season is set to bow out with its biggest episodes ever. With only six episodes, Season 8 is expected to be packed with epic turns of events, including its biggest battle—bigger than what many fans consider its most monumental, the massacre at Hardhome. Fans can also anticipate the formation of new alliances.

HBO GO is HBO’s online streaming service that gives subscribers a chance to watch and enjoy the world’s best movies, HBO Originals and more through the website or the mobile app. Subscription to the app also gives SKY subscribers free access to cable channels – HBO Hits, HBO Family, and HBO Signature.

The free access to HBO GO is available to all digital SKYcable and SKY Fiber Unli Broadband + HD Cable TV Plans 8Mbps and 16Mbps subscribers nationwide with HBO channel in their cable line-up. Download the HBO GO app now and register to catch up in time for the premiere of Season 8 on April 15, at 9:00AM. Visit mysky.com.ph/freehbogo for details.

For more exciting updates on “Game of Thrones,” visit mysky.com.ph/got.

Disclosure: I work for SKY and part of my job is promoting its products and services, especially the content it provides to its subscribers. I consider being able to share my love for TV shows and movies and the experience of watching and talking about them with like-minded people some of the biggest perks of my job.

Promo details provided by SKY in a recent press release.

Check out my posts on HBO shows: