Netflix is set to premiere its latest Greek mythology project, in which Jeff Goldblum will play the king of the gods in a contemporary setting.
Due to the story's theme, comparisons with the Disney+ show Percy Jackson and the Olympians are inevitable. KAOS, however, sets itself apart by putting a dark comedy twist on the relationship of Olympus’ first family headed by Zeus, who, after discovering (gasp!) a wrinkle on his forehead, increasingly develops trust issues.
While Zeus spirals into paranoia, the rest of his family seemingly plots against him, all the more stoking up his fears. “It’s so brutal,” Janet McTeer, who plays Hera, shares in an interview. “They will do anything for their own pleasure. They don’t care what it costs people or the earth.”
“It was always a mashup of stuff, but the stories were always about timeless things like love, and power, death, and dysfunctional families,” series creator Charlie Covell says. “It was always kind of funny in my head.”
Aside from Hera, Dionysus (Nabhaan Rizwan), Hades (David Thewlis), and Poseidon (Cliff Curtis) are joining Zeus as he navigates KAOS.
Humans to Play a Part in Saving the World
In KAOS, three mortals get involved in Prometheus’ (Stephen Dillane) plan to take Zeus down, another major difference from the young-adult series where humans are passive players. Unbeknownst to them, they are connected through an ancient prophecy and thus have a role in the success or fall of Olympus and Earth.
Riddy (Aurora Perrineau) is hinted to be the reimagining of Eurydice, the lover of Orpheus (Killian Scott). Instead of a lyre player, he is a pop star oblivious to Riddy’s needs. “Orpheus is lovable and flawed. I don't think his eyes are open to what Riddy's actually feeling,” reveals Covell.
Completing the trio are Ari (Leila Farzad) and Caneus (Misia Butler), who are highly speculated to be the modern versions of Ariadne and Caeneus, respectively. In the myths, the two, like Eurydice, were unfortunately entangled in the affairs of the gods.
KAOS starts streaming on Netflix on August 29.