EXCLUSIVE: MGM+ has cast Jessica Frances Dukes (Ozark) as the female lead opposite Alexander Ludwig in Earth Abides, a limited series that promises to offer an imaginative new take on George R. Stewart’s classic sci-fi novel of the same name.
Dukes will star as Emma opposite Ludwig’s Ish. Emma is the polar opposite of Ish and is described as fearless in body and mind, who is the heartbeat of the new world they set out to build. Loss has taught her two things: that life and pain are forever intertwined and, in the end, we are not defined by what we have acquired but rather by what we have given away.
Created by showrunner Todd Komarnicki (Sully), Earth Abides depicts how a plague of unprecedented virulence sweeps the globe and all but wipes out the human race. In the aftermath, as the great machine of civilization slowly and inexorably breaks down, only a few shattered survivors remain to struggle against the slide into extinction.
Production on Earth Abides begins April 8 in Vancouver for a premiere on MGM+ in late 2024.
Oscar winner Michael Phillips (The Sting), along with Juliana Maio and Kearie Peak, serve as executive producers. Additional writers include Karen Janszen, Tony Spiridakis, Evan Hart, and Kyle Stephen. Bronwen Hughes is directing the pilot and episode 2. Rachel Leiterman will direct episodes 3 and 4, and Stephen Campanelli will direct episodes 5 and 6.
Dukes can be seen starring in Project Greenlight and Gray Matter, both feature films on Max, as well as in a supporting role in the Paramount feature Organ Trail. She is represented by Schachter Entertainment, Innovative Artists, and Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin, & Dunham.