Netflix releases a teaser for The Society and sets the premiere date as May 10. Last November, the drama series’ main cast was announced, and first-look images were released in March.
Directed by Marc Webb and written by Chris Keyser, The Society follows a group of teenagers who must survive on their own upon being transported to a location that’s similar to their new New England hometown but devoid of any parents. The narrative is inspired by William Golding’s classic 1954 novel Lord of the Flies, in which a plane full of preadolescent boys crashes and forces them to think outside the box in order to survive on a deserted island. Netflix’s female-centric take on the story stars Kathryn Newton, Rachel Keller, Kristine Froseth, and Olivia DeJonge.
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On YouTube, Netflix released the teaser for The Society. Early on, Newton’s Allie places a call to her mother and implies that she’s been alone with others for a full nine days. The silent open is briefly interrupted by Billie Eilish’s 2019 single “Bury a Friend,” while a rapidly cut montage teases the narrative’s premise. After 30 seconds, Allie notes that “things got bad,” which kicks the trailer into high gear as the “Bury a Friend” lyrics parallels visuals of The Society’s characters turning on each other, Lord of the Flies-style, which leads to a group of boys pointing guns directly at the aforementioned Allie, who appears to be the primary protagonist. As a whole, the editing creates a jarring effect, as it’s unclear why the The Society’s characters are in such a precarious situation, or where they’re located. The video ends with the ominous line, “If you hear this, please come find us.” Watch The Society’s trailer below.
The Society marks the latest big role for the American actress Newton. On the big screen, she’s recently appeared in high-profile films like Lady Bird, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and Blockers. She also portrays Lucy Stevens in the upcoming Pokémon: Detective Pikachu. Over the past decade, Newton has steadily appeared on television, with extensive character arcs on The CW’s Supernatural, AMC’s Halt and Catch Fire, and the BBC’s Little Women. In addition, Newton had a main role on CBS’ Gary Unmarried. On HBO’s Big Little Lies, she stars as the daughter of Reese Witherspoon’s character.
While the typical Netflix trailer provides a complete look at new television shows, The Society clip offers little detail about the main cast and premise. While this builds suspense for the 10-episode drama, it also means that the series may get lost in the shuffle until the release date. But given the integration of a popular artist like Eilish, Netflix seems to be on the right track with their marketing approach for The Society.
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