Wikipedia

Moonhaven (TV series)

Moonhaven is a utopian science fiction television series produced by AMC+ that premiered on July 7, 2022.[1][2][3] The series depicts a quasi-utopian community set on a part of the Moon, intended to develop the technical and cultural means to save a ravaged Earth. The first episode begins with a murder, and the first season develops around a pivotal event for this project on the Moon, called the Bridge, when the first generations of Mooners, as the people from this community are called, will go back to Earth to teach the Earthers a way to overcome their ecological and economic crisis.[1]

Moonhaven
Genre
Created byPeter Ocko
Directed byPeter Ocko
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producer
  • Deb Spera
Original release
NetworkAMC+
ReleaseJuly 7 (2022-07-07) –
August 4, 2022 (2022-08-04)

The series is directed by Peter Ocko, and the cast includes Dominic Monaghan, Emma McDonald, Kadeem Hardison, Amara Karan, and Joe Manganiello.[1][4]

On July 28, 2022, it was reported that the series had been renewed for a second season by AMC+.[5] A few months later, the renewal decision was reversed and the series was canceled.[6]

Premise

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The series is set three generations after settlers left a dying Earth to build a 500-square-mile colony on the Moon. Rather than eyeing the lunar surface as a potential Earth replacement, the community of Moonhaven was sent with a powerful artificial intelligence system designed to find solutions for Earth’s problems. As the pilot begins, a younger generation of Moon settlers is on the verge of returning to Earth with what they’ve learned, a last-gasp humanitarian mission.

Cast

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  • Dominic Monaghan as Paul Serno, a detective in Moonhaven
  • Emma McDonald as Bella Sway, an Earth space pilot
  • Amara Karan as Indira Mare, Earth's Envoy of the IO
  • Ayelet Zurer as Maite Voss, Chair of Moonhaven's leadership council
  • Kadeem Hardison as Arlo Noon, a detective in Moonhaven
  • Yazzmin Newell as Sonda Crux, Voss' second in command
  • Joe Manganiello as Tomm Schultz, Mare's bodyguard
  • Elaine Tan as Lone, Paul Serno's wife
  • Bamshad Abedi-Amin as Fritz, a fireman and Lone's lover
  • Josh Tedeku as Wish Spur, Paul and Lone's water son; a member of circle 6 of the First Wave
  • Martha Malone as Elna, Paul and Lone's water daughter
  • Adam Isla O'Brien as Strego Nall, a mooner involved in an anti-Bridge insurrectionist group
  • Nina Barker-Francis as Chill Spen, Bella's blood sister; murdered by Strego Nall
  • Lilit Lesser as Asus, Chill Spen's water sister
  • George Georgiou as Jate Mura, a drug smuggler on Earth
  • Arthur Lee as Tycho Heller, a councillor overseeing the Bridge
  • Amy Ledwidge as Wild Child, an unnamed girl Bella frequently encounters on the fringes of Moonhaven
  • Charis Agbonlahor as Loa, Bella Sway and Chill Spen's blood mother; Maite Voss's former girlfriend
  • Robyn Holdaway as Blu, an apprentice detective under Paul Serno's supervision
  • Seán T. Ó Meallaigh as Sirl, involved in the mooner insurrection
  • Helen Roche as Gnoc, Paul Serno's blood mother
  • Medivic Bakanababo as Zek, a gazer
  • Thom Ashley (as Thom Ashely) as Tello, Blu's father

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [7]
1"The Pilot"Bridget Savage Cole & Danielle KrudyPeter OckoJuly 7, 2022 (2022-07-07)
2"The Detective"Bridget Savage Cole & Danielle KrudySarah NolenJuly 7, 2022 (2022-07-07)
3"The Envoy"Laura BelseyBrad Caleb KaneJuly 14, 2022 (2022-07-14)
4"Mada"Laura BelseyAl LetsonJuly 21, 2022 (2022-07-21)
5"Dreadfeel"David CaffreyJim GavinJuly 28, 2022 (2022-07-28)
6"The Seeker"David CaffreyAalia BrownAugust 4, 2022 (2022-08-04)

Production

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Development

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In March 2021 AMC Studios opened a writers' room for Peter Ocko's Moonhaven, for the production of material as part of its scripts-to-series model. Dep Spera signed on as executive producer.[8] On May 11, 2021, the series received a greenlight order from AMC.[9][10]

On July 28, 2022, it was reported that the series had been renewed for a second season by AMC+.[5] On December 3, 2022, it was announced that the second season renewal had been reversed and AMC+ had decided to cancel the series.[6]

Casting

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In July 2021 Dominic Monaghan signed on to star in the series as lead opposite Joe Manganiello, with Emma McDonald announced as to headline the series. Ayelet Zurer was also announced in a key role.[11][12][13][14] Kadeem Hardison was announced as a series regular with Yazzmin Newell also joining the cast as a series regular in September 2021.[15][16]

Reception

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The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 65% approval rating with an average rating of 5.7/10, based on 17 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Moonhaven's depiction of a utopia is often more goofy than harmonious, although fans of idiosyncratic sci-fi will likely enjoy this trip to the moon."[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 74 out of 100 based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Judy Berman (July 7, 2022). "Moonhaven Is the Smart, If Slightly Silly, Sci-Fi Thriller You've Been Waiting For". TIME. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  2. ^ Ethan Warren (July 7, 2022). "AMC Plus' Moonhaven is homework from the future". Polygon. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  3. ^ John Townsend (July 30, 2022). "Moonhaven Review: A Slow-Burning Sci-fi Drama that Hides Its Ideas in Plain Sight". Slantmagazine. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  4. ^ William Hughes (July 30, 2022). "AMC+ renews its sci-fi mystery Moonhaven for a second season". Polygon. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  5. ^ a b White, Peter (July 28, 2022). "'Moonhaven' Renewed For Season 2 At AMC+". Deadline. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (December 3, 2022). "'Moonhaven' Canceled: AMC+ Reverses Season 2 Renewal Decision Amid Programming Write-Downs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "Shows A-Z – Moonhaven on AMC+". The Futon Critic. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 3, 2021). "AMC Studios Opens Writers' Room For Peter Ocko's Utopian Drama 'Moonhaven'". Deadline. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  9. ^ Maiella, Jim (May 11, 2021). "NEW SERIES GREENLIT FOR AMC+ AND AMC, "MOONHAVEN"". AMC Networks. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  10. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 11, 2021). "Peter Ocko's Utopian Drama 'Moonhaven' Gets AMC Series Order". Deadline. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  11. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (July 8, 2021). "'Moonhaven': Dominic Monaghan To Star In AMC Utopian Drama Series From Peter Ocko". Deadline. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  12. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (July 15, 2021). "'Moonhaven': Ayelet Zurer Joins Cast Of AMC's Peter Ocko Drama Series". Deadline. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  13. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (July 19, 2021). "'Moonhaven': Emma McDonald To Headline AMC Utopian Drama From Peter Ocko". Deadline. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  14. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 28, 2021). "Joe Manganiello To Star In AMC Series 'Moonhaven'". Deadline. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  15. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (July 20, 2021). "'Moonhaven': Kadeem Hardison Joins Cast Of AMC Utopian Drama As Series Regular". Deadline. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  16. ^ Petski, Denise (September 27, 2021). "Yazzmin Newell Joins AMC's 'Moonhaven' As Series Regular". Deadline. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  17. ^ "Moonhaven: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  18. ^ "Moonhaven: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
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