TNT Gives 'The Lazarus Project' an Early Season 2 Renewal
Paapa Essiedu in "The Lazarus Project"
(Photo: TNT)
Despite the fact that its first season won't air in the U.S. until June, cable network TNT has already picked up its buzzy British action thriller The Lazarus Project for a second season. Despite its scheduling woes, the fact that TNT has already signed on for Season 2 is certainly a sign that the network has considerable faith in the show. The announcement arrives after Sky, which launched the series, renewed it for a second season last year.
If you're thinking, wait, wasn't this supposed to air already, you're not wrong — it was initially promoted as a January debut, at least until the cable network basically scrapped its entire winter lineup in the wake of the Warner Brothers/Discovery merger, moving this series, along with The Cube and the third season of Miracle Workers to various dates later in the year.
The Lazarus Project hails from Girl/Haji creator Joe Barton and stars Paapa Essiedu (The Capture) as George, who is recruited to the titular undercover organization, a secret group that possesses the ability to turn back time whenever the world is under the threat of extinction and only its members can the events that are undone when time is rewound. But when a deadly accident hurts someone George loves, he comes into conflict with his new colleagues, who insist that time can't be turned back for anything less than a global threat. And as he finds himself reliving the day over and over, he's faced with the question of what he's willing to sacrifice — or betray — for the chance to undo it.
Paapa Essiedu and Tom Burke in "The Lazarus Project"
(Photo: TNT)
Here's the official synopsis
The Lazarus Project is a riveting eight-hour drama that follows George, the latest recruit to The Lazarus Project – a secret organization that has harnessed the ability to turn back time whenever the world is at the threat of extinction. George and his colleagues are the few people on Earth with the ability to remember the events that are undone when time goes back. But when a freak accident harms someone close to George, Lazarus won’t let him turn back time to undo it unless there is the threat of global extinction. Now George must choose to stay loyal or go rogue as he faces the question of: if you had the power to re-write your past, what would you sacrifice to do it? The Lazarus Project explores our desire to take charge of what is beyond our control and is a moving story of love and fate within a gripping action thriller that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Alongside Essiedu, the series stars Anjli Mohindra (The Suspect), Tom Burke (C.B. Strike), Caroline Quentin (Doc Martin), Brian Gleeson (Peaky Blinders), Rudi Dharmalingam (The Split), Vinette Robinson (Sherlock), alec Utgoff (Dracula) and Charly Clive (Pure).
Given that we haven't seen Season 1 yet, there's very little information about what a second outing will entail, either narratively speaking or in terms of which cast members will be returning for it. (Though I think we can all assume Essiedu will be back.)
The Lazarus Project premieres on June 4 at 9 pm on TNT and will air on a weekly release schedule.
