Josh Hartnett Set To Star in New A.I. Thriller Series THE FEAR INDEX
Josh Hartnett (Penny Dreadful) has landed the lead role in a new thriller series for Sky titled The Fear Index. The show is based on a novel written by Robert Harris and it sounds like it’s going to be a cool, interesting, and intense story.
Hartnett will play a character named Dr. Alex Hoffman, “a computer scientist and genius who is ready with a new AI product launch that promises big returns, but whose roll-out plans go awry. What follows is a journey through the worst 24 hours of his life — cutting across reality, memory and paranoid fantasy, forcing him to question everything he sees with his own eyes.”
The show is said to be “a fast-paced four-part limited series” and the script was adapted by Paul Andrew Williams and Caroline Bartleet. It was directed by David Caffrey (The Alienist) and also stars Leila Farzad (I Hate Suzie), Arsher Ali (The Ritual) and Grégory Montel (Call My Agent).
Gabriel Silver, director of commissioning, drama, Sky Studios, said in a statement: “Paul and Caroline’s scripts offer a relentlessly gripping take on a chilling Frankenstein parable of our times, and we are delighted to be working with Left Bank and the incredible cast led by Josh Hartnett to bring Robert Harris’s thrilling story to Sky viewers later this year.”
Sharon Hughff, executive producer for Left Bank Pictures, added: “This could not be a more timely moment to explore the sinister application of AI, and we are very excited to partner with Sky to bring Robert Harris’s prescient thriller to the screen.”
Produced by Left Bank Pictures in association with Sky Studios, The Fear Index will begin filming this month in Hungary, with Pioneer Pictures providing local production services. It will air on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW later this year.
Source: Variety