Mutants Come to Victorian England in HBO’s THE NEVERS

There are lots of stories about mutants. And with Marvel seemingly certain to add the X-Men to the MCU eventually, a lot more are coming. So how do you tell an original story based on such a popular trope? You explore a time period mutants don’t often populate, like Victorian England. That’s what HBO is doing with their upcoming fantasy series The Nevers, from creator Joss Whedon. (He developed the series but exited the project last November.) The show’s first trailer teases a costumed period piece combined with a superhero tale, featuring some high-class ladies who aren’t apologizing to anyone for their incredible abilities.

“In the last years of Victoria’s reign, London is beset by the ‘Touched’: people—mostly women—who suddenly manifest abnormal abilities—some charming, some very disturbing. Among them are Amalia True (Laura Donnelly), a mysterious, quick-fisted widow, and Penance Adair (Ann Skelly), a brilliant young inventor. They are the champions of this new underclass, making a home for the Touched, while fighting the forces of…well, pretty much all the forces—to make room for those whom history as we know it has no place.”

The trailer for The Nevers feels like Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes movies crossed with Amazon Prime’s Carnival Row. Then that was mixed up with Marvel’s X-Men. But only if the women had super powers, and they weren’t afraid to use them, let alone live in shame of them. All with some sci-fi intrigue sprinkled in for tantalizing world building and mystery.

And you know what? Hell yeah! That’s an incredible combination, and The Nevers looks like a fun, unique take on a tried-and-true formula. Clearly mutants work in any era.

Mutants Come to Victorian England in HBO's THE NEVERS_1

The Nevers also stars: Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley, Rochelle Neil, Eleanor Tomlinson, Amy Manson, Pip Torrens, Denis O’Hare, Zackary Momoh, Elizabeth Berrington, Kiran Sawar, Anna Devlin, Viola Prettejohn, Ella Smith, Nick Frost, and Ben Chaplin. It debuts on HBO this April, with six-episodes.

Featured Image: HBO

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