HBO just released the trailer for its anticipated miniseries about the Chernobyl nuclear accident—and it looks good. The show, aptly named Chernobyl, is expected to underline the horrors of nuclear radiation and will focus on both the people directly caught up in the disaster as those charged with handling its consequences.
Here’s the trailer:
An unparalleled disaster
Nearly 33 years ago, what was supposed to be an ordinary safety test went wrong at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, near the town of Pripyat, Ukraine.
After operators shut down safety protocols for the test, they encountered a severe flaw that created a horrifying chain reaction, resulting in several violent explosions within one of the reactors. The accident released plumes of radiation into the atmosphere, damaging and contaminating the surrounding area. It remains the worst nuclear disaster in history to this day.
The Chernobyl accident was an environmental nightmare for the region and its inhabitants. As you probably know, radiation is really bad for DNA, as it can damage its structure at the most fundamental level. Genetic mutations are a common outcome after radiation exposure. Even years after suffering from radiation, the body can react in all kinds of nasty and harmful ways—from cancers to congenital diseases.
After the incident at Chernobyl, over 130 servicemen were hospitalized, suffering from severe radiation sickness. 38 firemen and employees died within months.
What we know so far about Chernobyl
HBO’s dama will follow the stories of these unfortunate witnesses and victims, starred by an incredible cast which includes Stellan Skarsgård, Emily Watson, Jared Harris, Jessie Buckley, and Barry Keoghan.
Watson plays Ulana Khomyuk, a nuclear physicist investigating the cause behind the explosion. Skarsgård, on the other hand, will star as a government official overseeing the government’s commission on site, named Boris Shcherbina.
The miniseries is directed by Johan Renck, one of the directors of Breaking Bad, and written by Craig Mazin, best known for the The Hangover franchise. Chernobyl is due to premiere on Tuesday, May 7.
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