Star of Boardwalk Empire and Fargo, Steve Buscemi, is the latest big name to be cast in Channel 4’s upcoming Philip K. Dick anthology series, Electric Dreams. He’ll be taking the lead in the comic film noir nightmare that is Crazy Diamond, one of the ten episodes that are currently in production, which is based on the story of the same name.
Buscemi will plays an average Joe named Ed, who is quick to accept the illegals plans of a beautiful synth that approaches him out of nowhere. In the crumbling aftermath of his decision to help, his life is changed forever, resulting in a lot let average and a lot more mess for Ed.
The adapted screenplay for Crazy Diamond has been written by Tony Grisoni, whose previous work includes Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas. Marc Munden (National Treasure) is directing the episode as part of the wider anthology series, with a raft of directors and writers pulling it all together.
It’s one of two episodes announced by Channel 4, with the other, Father Thing, adding in Greg Kinnear to the growing list of cast members, along with Jack Gore and Mireille Enos. It tells the story of a quiet alien invasion as a family discover that humans are being replaced by them. This time, the episode is being written and directed by Michael Dinner (The Wonder Years).
The two new episodes confirmed takes the tally up to four, following on from the details announced for The Commuter and Impossible Planet earlier in the year. The additions to the cast join Timothy Spall (The King’s Speech), Tuppence Middleton (BBC’s War And Peace), Geraldine Chaplin (A Monster Calls), Jack Reynor (Free Fire) and Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange), who will be featuring in the other two episodes.
With six episodes still to go, we’re expecting a fair few names still to come as Channel 4 appear to be putting everything into the production of Electric Dreams. We already know that Bryan Cranston (Power Rangers (2017)) will be starring in one of them, to go with his executive producer credit, so it’s definitely coming together in impressive style, giving the work of Philip K. Dick to attention that it deserves. Filming for the series began earlier in spring 2017 and it is set to air on Channel 4 in the UK later in the year and on Amazon Prime Video in the US.
