Every week there is a new show to binge on and Netflix’s newest offering is the limited series Painkiller. One of the most popular genres on the streaming platform that has audiences hooked to it is the crime and mystery genre. Audiences have particularly developed a liking for shows based on real-life incidents. The bingeworthy nature of limited series also makes them a popular choice. After web shows such as Inventing Anna and The Dropout received massive responses, the writers seem to be focussing on stories that became popular media scandals.
It seems Painkiller also falls in this genre. The fictitious version of real-life events piques the interest of audiences, just enough to make them dig deeper into events of the past. From political scandals to wall street messes, there are several hero and anti-hero stories that can be spun around to create engaging material for the streaming platform. Wondering what the show is about? Take a look at everything we know about it so far.
Painkiller Cast
The series has been directed by Peter Berg with Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster serving as the showrunners and writers of the series. It stars Matthew Broderick in the lead role of Richard Sackler, a patriarch of the Sackler family and senior executive at Purdue Pharma. Also, Uzo Aduba will be seen playing the role of play Edie Flowers, a lawyer at the US attorney’s office.
West Duchovny has been cast as Shannon Shaeffer, a person on Purdue’s sales team. The cast also includes Taylor Kitsch as Glen Kryger, and Carolina Bartczak his wife, Lily Kryger. Also starring in the series are Dina Shihabi as Britt Hufford, Tyler Ritter as John Brownlee and John Rothman in the role of Mortimer Sackler.
Painkiller Plot/Storyline
A trailer of the series has been released and it throws light on what the show is all about. The show will follow the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America. Taking a look at the pharmaceutical industry, the series chronicles medical sales representatives and those whom Purdue Pharma paid to get physicians to prescribe their addictive medicine.
The trailer showcases how OxyContin, a legal drug prescribed by doctors and t led to the opioid crisis in America. The show will cover all sides of the crisis including how the Purdue Pharma family was profiting from it as well as the effects of its widespread use. From the attorneys involved to the pharma representatives, the show presents a fictionalised version of the scandal in an intriguing manner.
Painkiller Release Date and Trailer
The Netflix show is all set to release on August 10. With each episode with a runtime of approximately and hour, the limited series will consist of six episodes. All episodes of the show will be released together on the premiere date itself. The show has been produced by Eric Newman of Narcos fame and Peter Berg who worked on Friday Night Lights. The first look photos of the series were previously released in May this year following which the trailer was released in July, a month before its premiere.
Are you excited to dig deep into the opioid crisis scandal in America? Tell us in the comments below.
Also Read: Will There Be Heartstopper Season 3? Returning Cast and More To Know