‘Orphan Black: Echoes’ Trailer: Krysten Ritter Runs from Her Past in Chilling Sci-Fi Spinoff Set in 2052
Alison Foreman
In an amusingly meta instance of sci-fi imitating sci-fi, “Orphan Black” is getting a futuristic sequel series before anyone has time enough to miss the original. That’s either a big mistake or more of a good thing in a booming genre that could almost always do with more feminist entries.
Set in the year 2052, “Orphan Black: Echoes” stars executive producer Krysten Ritter as an amnesiac woman named Lucy who we meet unraveling the insidious impacts of a mysterious procedure she doesn’t remember having. (Judging by the trailer, it was… goopy?) In a classic streaming age mess-around, the IP extension comes just seven years after the Canadian cult hit became a household name in made-for-TV cloning.
“Set in the near future, ‘Orphan Black: Echoes’ takes a deep dive into the exploration of the scientific manipulation of human existence,” AMC teased in a press release accompanying the show’s trailer on May 9. “Echoes” begins airing weekly June 23 and “follows a group of women as they weave their way into each other’s lives and embark on a thrilling journey, unravelling the mystery of their identity and uncovering a wrenching story of love and betrayal.”
The original feminist thriller, which ran for five seasons from 2013-2017 on BBC America and Space (a Canadian channel), starred Tatiana Maslany as the multiplying Sarah Manning and netted the actress her first — and so far only — Emmy win. Creator, writer, and showrunner Anna Fishko has ostensibly sped up the timeline for “Echoes” to account for Sarah’s daughter. Previously played by Skyler Wexler, the role of now adult scientist Dr. Kira Manning is being taken over by Keeley Hawes. Amanda Fix, Avan Jogia, Rya Kihlstedt, and James Hiroyuki Liao round out the cast.
The synopsis for Episode 1 reads: “When Lucy’s quiet life in the countryside is violently interrupted by forces from her past, she must escape to the city with her new chosen family to find answers, only to meet a familiar young woman who begs even more questions.”
Fishko executive produces the ten-episodes series with Rytter and John Fawcett, who co-created “Orphan Black” with Graeme Manson; original series’ executive producers David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg also return alongside newcomers Nick Nantell, Katie O’Connell Marsh, and Kerry Appleyard.
“Orphan Black: Echoes” premieres Sunday, June 23 at 10 p.m. ET on AMC and BBC America; new episodes stream weekly on AMC+. Check out the trailer below:
