Emmy winner Jodie Comer will headline The Chain, a new HBO limited series from Damon Lindelof. Deadline reports the project reunites HBO with Lindelof after his acclaimed work on Watchmen and The Leftovers.
This is prestige TV catnip. Comer is one of the best actors working today - her work in Killing Eve and The Last Duel showcased incredible range, and she commits fully to every role. Lindelof, meanwhile, has proven he can deliver ambitious, divisive, unforgettable television. His shows don't play it safe, and they don't apologize for being difficult.
The combination has "awards darling or spectacular misfire" written all over it, which is exactly what makes it interesting. Lindelof's work tends to polarize - The Leftovers was either brilliant or pretentious depending on who you asked, and Watchmen won Emmys while sparking fierce debate. There's no middle ground with his projects.
Comer thrives in complex, challenging material. She's not an actor who takes easy roles or phones it in. Whatever The Chain is about, you can bet it'll be thematically dense and emotionally demanding. That's Lindelof's wheelhouse, and it's exactly the kind of material Comer gravitates toward.
HBO has had enormous success with Lindelof before. The Leftovers became a critical darling despite modest ratings, and Watchmen was a genuine cultural moment that swept the Emmys. They clearly trust him to deliver something distinctive, even if it's not designed for mass appeal.
The limited series format is perfect for 's storytelling. He can build toward a specific endpoint without worrying about multi-season sustainability. His best work has been when he knows exactly where he's going from the start.
