The short series Painkiller, which will focus on America’s current opioid crisis, just debuted on Netflix. This drama, starring Uzo Aduba and Matthew Broderick, will follow a fictionalized account of the events that led to one of America’s most significant crises in recent memory.
The streaming site made a trailer available for the upcoming movie, giving viewers a glimpse into the complex criminal landscape that fueled this serious issue. As stated in the synopsis:
“Explores the causes and consequences of America’s opioid crisis, highlighting the tales of offenders, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives have been irrevocably altered by the discovery of OxyContin.” It looks into crime, responsibility, and the institutions that have repeatedly let down hundreds of thousands of Americans.
The six-episode Painkiller will premiere on Netflix on August 10, 2023.
Painkiller: Pain, Pleasure, and Greed trailer
The OxyContin epidemic, a legal drug that can be prescribed and is frequently held responsible for America’s opioid crisis, is depicted in the Painkiller trailer. It concentrates on the drug’s dominance of the American market, the profiteers, and those who want to put an end to it. The series’ producers’ realistic approach is also shown in the teaser, along with some amazing photography and sound design.
The same-titled book by Barry Meier and The Family That Built the Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe served as the inspiration for the film Painkiller. It will recount the story in a fictional manner rather than as genuine happenings. At Netflix’s Tudum, the project’s director, Peter Berg, spoke about it and shared some significant insights. He declared:
“Everyone is aware of how serious the opioid crisis is…But here is the origin story of how medicine and money collided to make it feasible. One of the many things I thought the topic of OxyContin was missing was the drug’s acceptance by conventional medicine.
He continued, saying:
Whoever could best market their medication would make the most money… “How Arthur Sackler, this New York psychiatrist who specialised in lobotomies, started to realise that the future was in pills — specifically, advertising pills.”We wanted to be clear that while there could be a few humorous moments in this play, we don’t think the Sackler family, Purdue, or the opioid crisis are in the least bit funny.
The executive producer, Eric Newman, emphasised the importance of this limited series by saying:
“We wanted to mirror the effects of opioids: the warmth, hope, and relief of taking a pill that will deliver you from your suffering and then watching it turn into suffering,” said the creative team.
Along with the two main actors, Painkiller also stars Taylor Kitsch, Dina Shihabi, West Duchovny, and John Rothman in a stellar cast. Along with Carolina Bartczak, Clark Gregg, Jack Mulhern, Sam Anderson, Ana Cruz Kayne, Brian Markinson, Noah Harpster, John Ales, Johnny Sneed, Tyler Ritter, and others also show up. Painkiller will debut on Netflix on August 10th, 2023.
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