Created by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster, Painkiller is an upcoming 2022 American drama limited series made for Netflix.
The show is based on Patrick Radden Keefe’s New Yorker article “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain” and Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic by Barry Meier. The series was directed by Peter Berg. Production began in Toronto in April 2021 and wrapped in November 2021.
So, when the upcoming show is releasing? What is the plot? Who would be cast in the lead roles? Keep reading to know further details.
Painkiller Plot and Cast
Painkiller will focus on the opioid crisis that has gripped America since the 1990s. Speaking about how the series will explore the crisis, show creator Newman said: “A tragedy decades in the making, the opioid crisis has become one of the most devastating public health crises of our time.
Unlike other drug epidemics, born from underground manufacturing and covert smuggling, this epidemic began by prescription–dispensed by doctors, approved by government regulators, and promoted by a family-owned pharmaceutical giant that made billions while betraying the trust of patients and the public.”
The series has already racked up an all-star cast, including Orange is the New Black actress Uzo Aduba and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off lead Matthew Broderick. Broderick will play Richard Sackler, a member of the billionaire Sackler family and senior executive at Purdue Pharma, while Aduba is to star as Edie, an investigator leading the case against Purdue.
Other cast members include West Duchovny (The Magicians) as Purdue sales team new recruit Shannon, Dina Shihabi (Jack Ryan) as veteran Purdue sales rep Britt, and John Rothman (Ghostbusters) will play Mortimer Sackler, co-owner of Purdue Pharma.
Painkiller Release Date
Netflix hasn’t yet announced an official release date for the new series, but filming is due to wrap in November, so we reckon we can expect the series in early 2022.
The other information including episode numbers and the run time of each episode is still unrevealed. We will find it after some days.
Painkiller Trailer
There isn’t a trailer for the series just yet, so keep an eye out on Netflix for when it drops.
