EXCLUSIVE: Doug Liman is moving into podcasts via his 30 Ninjas studio.
The Swingers and Road House director’s company has teamed up with podcast network Realm to launch thriller Chinook starring Sanaa Lathan, who played Kendall Roy’s lawyer Lisa Arthur in Succession, and Kelly Marie Tran, who played Rose Tico in Stars Wars films The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.
The 12-part series will premiere on Wondery+ on March 29 with its first two episodes.
Chinook follows Deputy Ruth Vogel (Tran), a cop in the small town of Chinook, Montana, whose discovery of a mangled corpse on a frozen highway embankment sends her sleepy town into a frenzy. Enter Agent Loro (Lathan), an enigmatic FBI investigator tracking a vicious conman and his evangelical cult, the Crossroads Tabernacle. Loro and Ruth form a cautious partnership to find the killer—but as the mystery unravels through Ruth’s life, her family, and her church, she discovers a complex web of deceit that threatens to shatter her community.
Chinook is a Realm Original produced by 30 Ninjas, written by Ashley Quach and directed by Quach and Kevin Rosen-Quan.
Realm is behind series including Harley Quinn & The Joker: Sound Mind starring Christina Ricci and Billy Magnussen, Echo Park starring Harry Shum Jr., and If I Go Missing the Witches Did It starring Gabourey Sidibe.
30 Ninjas is behind AR thriller Asset 15 starring Amandla Stenberg and Myhal’a Herrold, Don’t Look Deeper starring Don Cheadle and Helena Howard and Invisible VR directed by Liman.
Kelly Marie Tran said, “I’m honored to lend my voice to a dynamic and complex character like Deputy Ruth Vogel. Ruth goes on a journey of intrigue and suspense throughout the series, and as a podcast fan myself, I’m excited for listeners to experience the masterful storytelling in Chinook alongside me.”
Sanaa Latham added, “I’ve been excited to bring Chinook to listeners since the very first moment I read the script. It’s a thrilling ride from start to finish and a joy to bring a character like Agent Loro to life. I cannot wait for audiences to immerse themselves in this captivating world.”
“It feels unreal to be on the cusp of seeing Chinook released to the world,” said Ashley Quach. “This began as a little story I wrote for myself one winter after I’d stayed up one too many nights reading about Jim Jones. Writing and directing this series took me deep into my own memories of religion and small-town scandal; the mortal terror a human can wield when they feel God is on their side. True crime aficionados know that a single murder is a domino fall of rash decisions, and I’ve left listeners a breadcrumb trail to follow through this strange little world, warmed by a cast of voices that will comfort and thrill them. If you burn through true crime podcasts and you keep a notebook when you watch mysteries, you’re going to love Chinook.”
Molly Barton, CEO of Realm, said, “Chinook represents the pinnacle of immersive storytelling, blending top-tier talent with a gripping narrative that will keep listeners on the edge of their seats. We are proud to partner with Doug Liman’s 30 Ninjas and Wondery+ to bring this thriller to audiences worldwide.”
Julina Tatlock, Executive Producer, 30 Ninjas, added, “We’re thrilled with Chinook. We always look for creators like Ashley Quach and Kevin Rosen-Quan, who bring a unique and original voice to this gripping story. With talented actors like Sanaa and Kelly, we are sure audiences will be enthralled. The promise and possibility for a project like Chinook is just beginning.”