The Leftovers (TV series)

The Leftovers is an American television drama series created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta airing on HBO. It is based on Perrotta's novel of the same name. The pilot was written by Lindelof and Perrotta, and directed by Peter Berg. The series stars Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman, Christopher Eccleston, Liv Tyler, Chris Zylka, Margaret Qualley, Ann Dowd and Carrie Coon. It premiered on HBO on June 29, 2014.On August 13, 2014, HBO renewed The Leftovers for a second season.

Premise

The Leftovers takes place three years after a global event in which many people disappeared, known as the "Sudden Departure", which caused the unexplainable disappearance of 140 million people, 2% of the world's population. The story focuses primarily on the Garvey family and their acquaintances in the fictional town of Mapleton, New York. Kevin Garvey is the Chief of Police. His wife, Laurie, has joined a cult called the Guilty Remnant. Their son, Tommy, has left home for college while their daughter, Jill, is acting out.

Cast and characters

Main cast

• Justin Theroux as Kevin Garvey, Jr., Mapleton's Chief of Police and father of two who is trying to maintain some semblance of normality in this new world. The breakup of his family (none of whom—except his unborn daughter—were taken in the Sudden Departure) puts more and more of a strain on him.
• Amy Brenneman as Laurie Garvey, Kevin's wife and Tom and Jill's mother, who left her entire life behind to join a mysterious cult called the Guilty Remnant.
• Christopher Eccleston as Matt Jamison, a former reverend and current editor of a self-published tabloid that outs sinners. He struggles with his inability to accept that he, a good Christian, was not taken in the Sudden Departure while many sinners were.
• Liv Tyler as Megan Abbott, a woman about to get married when she becomes the target of the Guilty Remnant.
• Chris Zylka as Tommy Garvey, Laurie's son (whom Kevin has raised as his own), who has recently dropped out of college and taken refuge with a mysterious guru called "Holy Wayne".
• Margaret Qualley as Jill Garvey, Kevin's teenaged, straight-A student daughter who has a difficult relationship with him.
• Carrie Coon as Nora Durst, a wife and mother who lost her husband, son and daughter in the Sudden Departure. She is Matt's sister.
• Emily Meade as Aimee, a free-spirited high schooler, friend of Jill's, who seems unfazed by the rapture.
• Amanda Warren as Lucy Warburton, Mapleton's take-no-prisoners mayor.
• Ann Dowd as Patti Levin, the leader of the local chapter of the Guilty Remnant.
• Michael Gaston as Dean, a man who seems to understand that times have changed, and addresses it head-on—often violently.
• Max Carver and Charlie Carver as Adam and Scott Frost, respectively. They are identical twin brothers and happy-go-lucky types.
• Annie Q. as Christine, one of Holy Wayne's many "groupies", for whom she apparently has a special and mysterious meaning. She is also a friend of Tommy's.

Recurring cast

• Paterson Joseph as Henry "Holy Wayne" Gilchrest, Jr., a post-Sudden Departure savior who “heals” people of their burdens.
• Frank Harts as Dennis Luckey, a police officer who works with Kevin.
• Scott Glenn as Kevin Garvey, Sr., Mapleton's former chief of police who has been committed to a mental health institute.
• Janel Moloney as Mary Jamison, Matt's wife, who became paralyzed after an accident during the Sudden Departure.
• Marceline Hugot as Gladys, a member of the Guilty Remnant.

Development and production

HBO acquired rights for series development with Perrotta attached as writer/executive producer and Ron Yerxa and Albert Berger as executive producers in August 2011, shortly before the book came out.

In June 2012, Damon Lindelof was announced to be developing the series alongside Perrotta, and serves as the series' showrunner.

The pilot was ordered in February 2013. On September 16, 2013, HBO announced that they were taking The Leftovers to series, ordering a 10-episode first season. The Leftovers is the first HBO series to be acquired from an outside studio, Warner Bros. Television, and not solely produced by HBO.

The first season covers the entirety of the book; the second season will be completely original material. In April 2015, it was reported that the setting for the second season would shift from Mapleton, New York to a suburb in Texas. The series will shift filming locations from New York to Austin, Texas, with principal photography commencing in late April.

Casting

In June 2013, casting announcements began. Justin Theroux, Liv Tyler, Christopher Eccleston, Ann Dowd, Amanda Warren, Michael Gaston, and Carrie Coon were announced to star in the pilot.

For the second season, 6 of the 14 main cast members from season one have been confirmed as returning, with Liv Tyler, Ann Dowd, Emily Meade, Amanda Warren, Annie Q.,Max Carver, Charlie Carver and Michael Gaston's status all currently unknown. If not returning as main cast members, those stars returning in guest roles are a possibility. In April 2015, casting began for an African-American family made up of father, ex-convict John Murphy, his hearing impaired doctor wife, Erika; and their teenage children Evie, an outgoing athlete, and Michael, a pious Christian. The roles of John, Erika and Michael will be portrayed by Kevin Carroll, Regina King and Jovan Adepo, respectively, all as series regulars. Darius McCrary was cast in a recurring role as Isaac Rayney, John's friend and a palm reader.