Wikipedia

Fatal Attraction (2023 TV series)

Fatal Attraction is an American erotic psychological thriller television series developed by Alexandra Cunningham and Kevin J. Hynes. It is based on the 1987 film of the same name written by James Dearden. The series aired on Paramount+ from April 30 to May 28, 2023. In October 2023, the series was cancelled after one season.

Fatal Attraction
Genre
Based onFatal Attraction
by James Dearden
Developed by
Starring
ComposerCraig DeLeon
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
  • Alexandra Cunningham
  • Kevin J. Hynes
  • Silver Tree
  • Justin Falvey
  • Darryl Frank
ProducerJonathan Talbert
Running time53–62 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkParamount+
ReleaseApril 30 (2023-04-30) –
May 28, 2023 (2023-05-28)
Related
Fatal Attraction

Premise

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A passionate affair takes a volatile and dangerous turn when a woman refuses to allow her married lover to put an end to it.

Cast and characters

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Main

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  • Joshua Jackson as Dan Gallagher, a Los Angeles deputy district attorney who serves as the head of the Major Crimes Bureau
  • Lizzy Caplan as Alex Forrest, a newly hired member of the Victim Services Bureau
  • Amanda Peet as Beth Gallagher, Dan's wife and Ellen's mother
  • Toby Huss as Mike Gerard, the DA office's chief of investigations and Dan's close friend
  • Brian Goodman as Arthur Tomlinson, Beth's best friend and business partner
  • Alyssa Jirrels as Ellen Gallagher, Dan and Beth's daughter and a psychology student
  • Reno Wilson as Detective Earl Booker, an LAPD officer

Recurring

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  • John Getz as Warren, Beth's father
  • Jessica Harper as Sophie, Beth's mother
  • Toks Olagundoye as Conchita Lewis, the head of the Victim Services Bureau, Alex's boss, and Dan's close friend
  • Wanda De Jesus as Marcella Levya, a respected attorney and Dan's boss
  • David Meunier as Richard Macksey, Ellen's psychology professor and thesis advisor
  • Walter Perez as Jorge Perez, a deputy district attorney
  • Tiago Roberts as Gabriel Ibarra, a courthouse bailiff
  • David Sullivan as Frank Gallardo, Dan's Major Crimes co-worker
  • Isabella Briggs as Stella, a student who befriends Ellen and is having a secret affair with Richard
  • Holley Fain as Julia Tomlinson, Arthur's wife

Guest

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  • Terri Hoyos as Beatrice, a criminal defense attorney
  • Christina Kirk as Angela, Ellen's therapist
  • Dee Wallace as Emma Rauch, Alex's neighbor
  • Cliff Chamberlain as Stanley Forrest, Alex's father
  • Will Ropp as Elijah Acosta, a former delivery man who now works at a cannabis store
  • Michelle Twarowska as Olena Kuzma, a woman in an abusive relationship whom Alex helps as part of Victim Services
  • Josh Zuckerman as Paul, Alex's neighbor
  • Vanessa Martinez as Jeannette Ruiz, an attorney in the Crimes Against Women Bureau
  • Gary Perez as Rolando Cabral
  • Michael Cassidy as Clay Bishop, a legal aid attorney who has a brief relationship with Alex
  • Brynn Thayer as Ruth Gurian
  • Lena Georgas as Patricia Forrest, Alex's mother
  • Ivy George as young Alex
  • Rondi Reed as Judge Webb
  • Jessika Van as Michelle

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byTeleplay byOriginal release date [1]
1"Pilot"Silver TreeAlexandra Cunningham and James DeardenApril 30, 2023 (2023-04-30)
2"The Movie in Your Mind"Silver TreeAlexandra Cunningham and James DeardenApril 30, 2023 (2023-04-30)
3"The Watchful Heart"Silver TreeStacy A. LittlejohnApril 30, 2023 (2023-04-30)
4"Beautiful Mosaics"Alexandra CunninghamKatherine B. McKennaMay 7, 2023 (2023-05-07)
5"Medial Woman"Alexandra CunninghamKevin J. Hynes & Tandace Khorrami and James DeardenMay 14, 2023 (2023-05-14)
6"The Dillingers"Silver TreeLuke Groneman & Michael CruzMay 21, 2023 (2023-05-21)
7"Best Friends"Pete ChatmonKevin J. HynesMay 28, 2023 (2023-05-28)
8"Caregiving"Silver TreeAlexandra CunninghamMay 28, 2023 (2023-05-28)

Production

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A television series reboot of the film was first announced in February 2021, when Paramount Pictures had announced they would be producing television versions of their films, naming Fatal Attraction, Flashdance, The Italian Job, Love Story, and The Parallax View as in development for Paramount+.[2]

In November, the series was officially given a series order, and Lizzy Caplan was cast to star as Alex, portrayed by Glenn Close in the film.[3] In January 2022, Joshua Jackson was cast as Dan, portrayed by Michael Douglas in the film.[4] In May, Silver Tree joined as a director and executive producer,[5] with Amanda Peet, Alyssa Jirrels, Toby Huss, Reno Wilson, and Brian Goodman joining the cast in June.[6][7] Wanda De Jesus would be added in a recurring role in July.[8] Doreen Calderon, Jessica Harper, John Getz, Toks Olagundoye, David Sullivan, and Isabella Briggs would join the following month.[9][10] In October, Walter Perez, David Meunier and Dee Wallace were cast in recurring roles.[11][12]

Filming began in mid–2022.[13]

On October 26, 2023, Paramount+ cancelled the series after one season.[14]

Release

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Fatal Attraction aired on Paramount+ from April 30 to May 28, 2023.[15] The series had its international premiere at the 2023 Canneseries on April 18.[16]

Reception

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The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 37% approval rating with an average rating of 5.1/10, based on 51 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "While Fatal Attraction avoids being a mere copy by transposing the lurid classic into a modern era of sexual politics, clumsy execution ultimately dulls this story's edge."[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 47 out of 100 based on 25 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[18]

The A.V. Club's Manuel Betancourt gave the series a C+ grade, writing, "Here's Fatal Attraction (1987) filtered through an at times painfully... self-reflective lens—as if the series were aware that its central setup (a murdered mistress) couldn't possibly be uncritically presented lest it be misread as the stuff of puerile thrillers."[19] James Jackson of The Times gave it 2/5 stars, saying it "finds new things to say about these damaged lives yet is so immersed in their problems it's more a case of Fatal Protraction."[20]

John Anderson of The Wall Street Journal called the series a "first-rate reimagining" an added that it was "far more complex, engrossing and adult than the 1987 original. And it shows that there was much more to be mined out of James Dearden's Oscar-nominated screenplay than Mr. Lyne probably ever imagined."[21] TheWrap's Gwen Ihnat said the series was "Captivating, binge-worthy viewing, despite the fact the pacing can get clunky, stretched across eight episodes that probably could have been six".[22]

References

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  1. ^ "Shows A–Z – Fatal Attraction on Paramount+". The Futon Critic. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  2. ^ White, Peter (February 24, 2021). "Love Story, Italian Job, The Parallax View, Flashdance & Fatal Attraction Reboots In Works At Paramount+". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  3. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 11, 2021). "Fatal Attraction Starring Lizzy Caplan As Alex Gets Paramount + Series Order". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  4. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 20, 2022). "Joshua Jackson To Star In Fatal Attraction TV Series At Paramount+". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  5. ^ Cordero, Rosy (May 17, 2022). "Fatal Attraction: Silver Tree To Direct And Executive Produce On Season 1". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  6. ^ Otterson, Joe (June 1, 2022). "Fatal Attraction Paramount+ Series Casts Amanda Peet (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  7. ^ Petski, Denise (June 23, 2022). "Fatal Attraction: Alyssa Jirrels, Toby Huss, Reno Wilson & Brian Goodman Join Paramount+ Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  8. ^ Petski, Denise (July 8, 2022). "Fatal Attraction: Wanda De Jesus Joins Paramount+ Series As Recurring". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  9. ^ Cordero, Rosy (August 22, 2022). "Fatal Attraction: Doreen Calderon Joins Paramount+ Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  10. ^ Behzadi, Sofia (August 11, 2022). "Fatal Attraction: Paramount+ Series Adds Five To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  11. ^ Cordero, Rosy (October 10, 2022). "Fatal Attraction: Walter Perez Joins Paramount+ Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  12. ^ Cordero, Rosy (October 13, 2022). "Fatal Attraction: David Meunier & Dee Wallace Board Paramount+ Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  13. ^ Al-Ghamadi, Abdullah (February 2, 2022). "Fatal Attraction TV Show Starts Production This Summer". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  14. ^ Rice, Lynette (October 26, 2023). "'Rabbit Hole,' 'Fatal Attraction' Canceled By Paramount+". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  15. ^ Nemetz, Dave (January 9, 2023). "Fatal Attraction Series Gets Release Date at Paramount+ — See New Photos". TVLine. Archived from the original on January 9, 2023. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  16. ^ Hopewell, John; Barraclough, Leo (March 28, 2023). "Canneseries: 'Dead Ringers,' 'Fatal Attraction,' 'Tapie' Join 'Silo' in Lineup". Variety. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  17. ^ "Fatal Attraction: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  18. ^ "Fatal Attraction: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  19. ^ Betancourt, Manuel (April 26, 2023). "Fatal Attraction review: An '80s erotic thriller, reimagined". The A.V. Club. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  20. ^ Jackson, James (August 14, 2023). "Fatal Attraction review — Eighties remake goes off the boil". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  21. ^ Anderson, John (April 27, 2023). "'Fatal Attraction' Review: Not Another Potboiler". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  22. ^ Ihnat, Gwen (April 25, 2023). "Fatal Attraction Review: Paramount+ Series Elevates Original Premise". TheWrap. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
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