Later this year, Netflix is giving us the weirdest Superbad sequel. Well, Maniac isn’t literally a sequel to that film, but it does reunite Jonah Hill and Emma Stone as executive producers and in the starring roles. Maniac is based upon a Norwegian television series that shares the same name, with Hill and Stone portraying strangers who meet while they are patients at a mental institution. At the TCA Press Tour, Netflix dropped a disorienting teaser video for Maniac that reminds us of Legion‘s mind-bending visuals.
True Detective season 1 director Cary Fukunaga helmed all ten episodes of Maniac‘s first season, and Netflix describes the show as a dark comedy. According to Deadline, Hill is portraying Owen Milgrim, the son of wealthy parents who may or may not be schizophrenic. That diagnosis is apparently going to be disputed during the series. Stone’s character is Annie Landsberg, a young woman who is struggling with her own mental issues. Owen and Andy will be drawn into a drug trial that promises to fix all of their problems and make them into functioning members of society.
Justin Theroux is co-starring in Maniac as Dr. James K. Mantleray, the man behind the drug trial. It may even be Theroux’s voice that we hear during the teaser, as he expresses his belief that the mind can be fixed. Sally Field is also set to have a recurring role on the series, but her role is currently unrevealed. Maniac will premiere its first season on Friday, September 21.
What do you think about the first teaser for Maniac? Lock yourselves up in the comment section below!
Image: Paramount TV/Netflix
