The Man Who Fell to Earth (TV series)
{{Short description|2022 science fiction drama television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = The_Man_Who_Fell_To_Earth_(2022_TV_Series)_key_art.png
| genre = {{plainlist|
}}
| creator = {{plainlist|
}}
| based_on = {{Based on|The Man Who Fell to Earth|Walter Tevis}}
| writer =
| director =
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Naomie Harris
- Annelle Olaleye
- Clarke Peters
- Bill Nighy
- Jimmi Simpson
- Kate Mulgrew
- Sonya Cassidy
- Joana Ribeiro
- Rob Delaney
}}
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer =
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 10
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Rola Bauer
- Carl Beverly
- Françoise Guyonnet
- John Hlavin
- Heather Kadin
- Alex Kurtzman
- Jenny Lumet
- Sarah Timberman
- Chiwetel Ejiofor
}}
| producer =
| editor =
| cinematography =
| runtime =
| company = {{Plainlist|
- Secret Hideout
- Timberman/Beverly Productions
- StudioCanal
- CBS Studios
}}
| budget =
| network = Showtime
| first_aired = {{Start date|2022|4|24}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2022|7|3}}
}}
The Man Who Fell to Earth is an American science fiction drama television limited series created by Jenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis. It is a sequel to the 1976 film starring David Bowie.{{cite web |last1=Framke |first1=Caroline |title=Showtime's 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' Continues the David Bowie Version With Care, But Fewer Risks: TV Review |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/reviews/the-man-who-fell-to-earth-review-chiwetel-ejiofor-1235238940/ |website=Variety |access-date=17 May 2022 |date=22 April 2022 |archive-date=28 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428085833/https://variety.com/2022/tv/reviews/the-man-who-fell-to-earth-review-chiwetel-ejiofor-1235238940/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Orquiola |first1=John |title=The Man Who Fell To Earth Timeline Explained: Is It A Remake Or Sequel? |url=https://screenrant.com/man-who-fell-earth-timeline-sequel-remake/ |website=Screen Rant |access-date=17 May 2022 |date=24 April 2022 |archive-date=17 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517205639/https://screenrant.com/man-who-fell-earth-timeline-sequel-remake/ |url-status=live }} The series stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as an alien who arrives on planet Earth and Bill Nighy, playing the role originally played by Bowie in the 1976 film. It debuted on Showtime on April 24, 2022. A portion of the series was shown at SXSW on March 12, 2022.{{cite web| url= https://schedule.sxsw.com/2022/films/2054870| title= The Man Who Fell To Earth| work= SXSW.com| access-date= February 22, 2022| archive-date= February 22, 2022| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220222164004/https://schedule.sxsw.com/2022/films/2054870| url-status= live}} The series was canceled after one season.
Premise
The future of the planet is in the hands of an alien who arrives on Earth at a pivotal moment in history.
Cast
=Main=
- Chiwetel Ejiofor as Faraday
- Naomie Harris as Justin Falls
- Annelle Olaleye as Molly Falls
- Clarke Peters as Josiah Falls
- Bill Nighy as Thomas Jerome Newton
- Jimmi Simpson as Spencer Clay
- Kate Mulgrew as Drew Finch
- Sonya Cassidy as Edie Flood
- Joana Ribeiro as Lisa Dominguez
- Rob Delaney as Hatch Flood
=Recurring=
- Tanya Moodie as Portia
- Juliet Stevenson as Sister Mary Lou Prescott
- Art Malik as Henning Khan
- Josh Herdman as Terry Mannch
- Laurie Kynaston as Clive Flood
=Guest=
- Martha Plimpton as Officer K. Faraday
- Zoë Wanamaker as Watt
- Victoria Smurfit as Penny Morgan
Episodes
Each episode is named after a David Bowie song.{{Cite web | url=https://consequence.net/2022/04/man-who-fell-to-earth-review-showtime/ | title='The Man Who Fell to Earth' is an Entertaining but Frustrating Trip into the Unknown: Review | date=22 April 2022 | access-date=24 April 2022 | archive-date=24 April 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424093359/https://consequence.net/2022/04/man-who-fell-to-earth-review-showtime/ | url-status=live }}
{{Episode table |background=#DADD98 |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |country=U.S. |viewers= |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|Title = Hallo Spaceboy
|DirectedBy = Alex Kurtzman
|WrittenBy = Jenny Lumet & Alex Kurtzman
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|4|24}}
|Viewers = 0.125{{cite web|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-sunday-4-24-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|title=ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 4.24.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated|work=Showbuzz Daily|first=Mitch|last=Metcalf|date=April 26, 2022|access-date=April 26, 2022|archive-date=April 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426224745/https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-sunday-4-24-2022-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html|url-status=live}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = #DADD98
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|Title = Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed
|DirectedBy = Alex Kurtzman
|WrittenBy = Jenny Lumet & Alex Kurtzman
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|5|1}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = #DADD98
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|Title = New Angels of Promise
|DirectedBy = Alex Kurtzman
|WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s=Michael Alaimo|t=Michael Alaimo and Jenny Lumet & Alex Kurtzman}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|5|8}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = #DADD98
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|Title = Under Pressure
|DirectedBy = Alex Kurtzman
|WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s=Jane Maggs|t=Jane Maggs and Jenny Lumet & Alex Kurtzman}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|5|15}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = #DADD98
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|Title = Moonage Daydream
|DirectedBy = Sarah Harding
|WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s=John Lopez|t=John Lopez and Jenny Lumet & Alex Kurtzman}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|5|29}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = #DADD98
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|Title = Changes
|DirectedBy = Sarah Harding
|WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s=Jane Maggs|t=Jane Maggs and Jenny Lumet & Alex Kurtzman}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|6|5}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = #DADD98
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|Title = Cracked Actor
|DirectedBy = Joss Agnew
|WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s=Helen Shang|t=Jenny Lumet & Alex Kurtzman}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|6|12}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = #DADD98
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 8
|Title = The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell
|DirectedBy = Joss Agnew
|WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s=Bill Wolkoff|t=John Hlavin and Jenny Lumet & Alex Kurtzman}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|6|19}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = #DADD98
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 9
|Title = As the World Falls Down
|DirectedBy = Olatunde Osunsanmi
|WrittenBy = {{StoryTeleplay|s=Jane Maggs|t=Jane Maggs and Jenny Lumet & Alex Kurtzman}}
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|6|26}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = #DADD98
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 10
|Title = The Man Who Sold the World
|DirectedBy = Olatunde Osunsanmi
|WrittenBy = John Hlavin and Jenny Lumet & Alex Kurtzman
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|7|3}}
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = #DADD98
}}
}}
Production
A television adaptation of Walter Tevis's novel The Man Who Fell to Earth, moved from Hulu to CBS All Access in August 2019. It was created by Jenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman. It had been in development at Hulu for over a year, and was moved as a result of the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney, as disagreements over co-production could not be resolved.{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title='The Man Who Fell To Earth' TV Series From Alex Kurtzman Ordered By CBS All Access |url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/the-man-who-fell-to-earth-tv-series-alex-kurtzman-ordered-cbs-all-access-1202657384/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=August 1, 2019| access-date=14 April 2021 |archive-date=19 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119021400/https://deadline.com/2019/08/the-man-who-fell-to-earth-tv-series-alex-kurtzman-ordered-cbs-all-access-1202657384/ |url-status=live }}
In February 2021, Chiwetel Ejiofor was cast to star in the series, playing the role of the alien/Faraday.{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title=Chiwetel Ejiofor To Star In 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' Series At Paramount+ |url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/chiwetel-ejiofor-the-man-who-fell-to-earth-series-paramount-plus-david-bowie-1234688229/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=February 5, 2021| access-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415111256/https://deadline.com/2021/02/chiwetel-ejiofor-the-man-who-fell-to-earth-series-paramount-plus-david-bowie-1234688229/ |url-status=live}} The next month, the series moved to Showtime, with Naomie Harris, Jimmi Simpson and Clarke Peters added to the cast.{{cite web |last=White |first=Peter |title='The Man Who Fell To Earth' Moves To Showtime From Paramount+ |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/the-man-who-fell-to-earth-moves-to-showtime-from-paramount-1234716517/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 17, 2021 |access-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414203802/https://deadline.com/2021/03/the-man-who-fell-to-earth-moves-to-showtime-from-paramount-1234716517/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title=Naomie Harris To Star In 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' Showtime Series |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/naomie-harris-star-the-man-who-fell-to-earth-showtime-series-1234719908/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 23, 2021 |access-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414203808/https://deadline.com/2021/03/naomie-harris-star-the-man-who-fell-to-earth-showtime-series-1234719908/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |title=Jimmi Simpson To Star In 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' Showtime Series |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/jimmi-simpson-cast-the-man-who-fell-to-earth-showtime-series-1234719972/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 23, 2021 |access-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414203800/https://deadline.com/2021/03/jimmi-simpson-cast-the-man-who-fell-to-earth-showtime-series-1234719972/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=White |first=Peter |title=Clarke Peters Joins Showtime's 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/clarke-peters-joins-showtime-the-man-who-fell-to-earth-1234723756/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 29, 2021 |access-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414203800/https://deadline.com/2021/03/clarke-peters-joins-showtime-the-man-who-fell-to-earth-1234723756/ |url-status=live }} Rob Delaney, Sonya Cassidy, Joana Ribeiro, and Annelle Olayele would join in April.{{cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |title=Rob Delaney Joins 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' Showtime Series |url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/rob-delaney-the-man-who-fell-to-earth-showtime-series-1234734361/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=April 14, 2021 |access-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414200114/https://deadline.com/2021/04/rob-delaney-the-man-who-fell-to-earth-showtime-series-1234734361/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/sonya-cassidy-the-man-who-fell-to-earth-showtime-series-1234740155/ |title=Sonya Cassidy Joins 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' Showtime Series |date=April 20, 2021 |last=Petski |first=Denise |work=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420163354/https://deadline.com/2021/04/sonya-cassidy-the-man-who-fell-to-earth-showtime-series-1234740155/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/the-man-who-fell-to-earth-joana-ribeiro-annelle-olaleye-showtime-series-1234747800/|title='The Man Who Fell To Earth': Joana Ribeiro & Annelle Olayele Join Showtime Series|date=April 30, 2021|first=Denise|last=Petski|work=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=April 30, 2021|archive-date=April 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430193622/https://deadline.com/2021/04/the-man-who-fell-to-earth-joana-ribeiro-annelle-olayele-showtime-series-1234747800/|url-status=live}} In August, Kate Mulgrew joined in a recurring role.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/the-man-who-fell-to-earth-kate-mulgrew-showtime-drama-recurring-1234818670/|title='The Man Who Fell To Earth': Kate Mulgrew Joins Showtime Drama As Recurring|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=August 20, 2021|access-date=August 20, 2021|archive-date=August 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820171430/https://deadline.com/2021/08/the-man-who-fell-to-earth-kate-mulgrew-showtime-drama-recurring-1234818670/|url-status=live}} In January 2022, Bill Nighy was cast to play Thomas Jerome Newton, the role David Bowie played in the film.{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=The Man Who Fell To Earth: Bill Nighy To Take Over Iconic David Bowie Character In Showtime Drama Series |url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/the-man-who-fell-to-earth-bill-nighy-thomas-newton-david-bowie-character-showtime-drama-series-1234926160/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=3 February 2022 |date=February 3, 2022 |archive-date=3 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203213335/https://deadline.com/2022/02/the-man-who-fell-to-earth-bill-nighy-thomas-newton-david-bowie-character-showtime-drama-series-1234926160/ |url-status=live }} In October 2022, it was reported that Showtime would not renew the series for a second season.{{cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|title='Man Who Fell to Earth' Will Not Return for Season 2 at Showtime (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/man-who-fell-to-earth-will-not-return-for-season-2-at-showtime-exclusive-1235238532/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 10, 2022|access-date=October 11, 2022|archive-date=October 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011011539/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/man-who-fell-to-earth-will-not-return-for-season-2-at-showtime-exclusive-1235238532/|url-status=live}}
Major part of the filming was done in the University of Hertfordshire.
Filming began on May 3, 2021, in London.{{cite tweet |author=Alex Kurtzman |user=Alex_Kurtzman |number=1389342632678096896 |title=Day 1 #TheManWhoFellToEarth |access-date=June 20, 2021}}
Release
The series was initially planned for a 2021 release on Paramount+.{{cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |title=CBS All Access Eyes Fall & Late 2020 Premieres For Richard Linklater Docuseries, 'The Stand', More |url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/cbs-all-access-eyes-fall-late-2020-premieres-for-richard-linklater-docuseries-the-stand-more-1202998802/ |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=July 30, 2020 |access-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119021400/https://deadline.com/2020/07/cbs-all-access-eyes-fall-late-2020-premieres-for-richard-linklater-docuseries-the-stand-more-1202998802/ |url-status=live}} It premiered on April 24, 2022 on Showtime and on Paramount+ internationally.
Reception
=Critical response=
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 86% approval rating with an average rating of 6.7/10, based on 29 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "The Man Who Fell to Earth may not be out of this world, but a commanding Chiwetel Ejiofor gives this space oddity an earthy gravitas."{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes|id=the_man_who_fell_to_earth|title=The Man Who Fell to Earth|type=tv|season=1|access-date=July 3, 2022}}{{cbignore}} Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 68 out of 100 based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{Cite Metacritic|id=the-man-who-fell-to-earth-2022|title=The Man Who Fell to Earth|type=tv|season=1|access-date=July 3, 2022}}{{cbignore}}
=Ratings=
{{Television episode ratings
| noshare = y
| hide_dvr = y
| hide_dvrv = y
| hide_total = y
| hide_totalv = y
| title1 = Hallo Spaceboy
| date1 = April 24, 2022
| rs1 = 0.02
| dvr1 =
| dvrv1 =
| total1 =
| totalv1 =
| title2 = Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed
| date2 = May 1, 2022
| rs2 = 0.02
| dvr2 =
| dvrv2 =
| total2 =
| totalv2 =
| title3 = New Angels of Promise
| date3 = May 8, 2022
| rs3 = 0.03
| dvr3 =
| dvrv3 =
| total3 =
| totalv3 =
| title4 = Under Pressure
| date4 = May 15, 2022
| rs4 = 0.03
| dvr4 =
| dvrv4 =
| total4 =
| totalv4 =
| title5 = Moonage Daydream
| date5 = May 29, 2022
| rs5 = 0.02
| dvr5 =
| dvrv5 =
| total5 =
| totalv5 =
| title6 = Changes
| date6 = June 5, 2022
| rs6 = 0.02
| dvr6 =
| dvrv6 =
| total6 =
| totalv6 =
| title7 = Cracked Actor
| date7 = June 12, 2022
| rs7 = 0.02
| dvr7 =
| dvrv7 =
| total7 =
| totalv7 =
| title8 = The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell
| date8 = June 19, 2022
| rs8 = 0.01
| dvr8 =
| dvrv8 =
| total8 =
| totalv8 =
| title9 = As the World Falls Down
| date9 = June 26, 2022
| rs9 = 0.02
| dvr9 =
| dvrv9 =
| total9 =
| totalv9 =
| title10 = The Man Who Sold the World
| date10 = July 3, 2022
| rs10 = 0.02
| dvr10 =
| dvrv10 =
| total10 =
| totalv10 =
}}
= Awards and nominations =
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ ! Award ! Date of ceremony ! Category ! Nominee(s) ! Result ! class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
| rowspan="2"|Saturn Awards
| rowspan="2"|October 25, 2022 | Best Science Fiction Television Series: Network/Cable | The Man Who Fell to Earth | {{nom}} | rowspan="2" style="text-align: center;"| {{Cite web |last=Tinoco |first=Armando |date=August 12, 2022 |title=Saturn Awards Nominations: 'The Batman', 'Nightmare Alley', 'Spider-Man', 'Better Call Saul' Top List |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/saturn-awards-2022-nominations-list-movies-tv-1235089636/ |access-date=September 22, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US |archive-date=August 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812202430/https://deadline.com/2022/08/saturn-awards-2022-nominations-list-movies-tv-1235089636/ |url-status=live }} |
| Best Actor in a Network or Cable Television Series
| {{nom}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
- {{IMDb title}}
{{Walter Tevis}}
{{Alex Kurtzman}}
{{Showtime Network programming}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Man Who Fell to Earth (TV series), The}}
Category:2022 American television series debuts
Category:2022 American television series endings
Category:2020s American drama television series
Category:2020s American science fiction television series
Category:Live action television shows based on films
Category:British English-language television shows
Category:Showtime (TV network) television dramas
Category:Television series about alien visitations
Category:Television series by CBS Studios
Category:Television series by StudioCanal
Category:Television series created by Alex Kurtzman
Category:Television shows based on American novels