‘Dead Ringers’: Trailer for the new TV Adaptation

Weisz stars in the new TV adaptation of David Cronenberg’s 1988 thriller about dodgy scientific practices.

Can you bring the psychological terror and body horror of a David Cronenberg movie to TV? If you have the less scope of streaming, and a Prime Video budget, you can certainly give it a try.

Dead Ringers

"Two bodies. Two minds. One soul."

R1 hr 55 minSep 23rd, 1988

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In Cronenberg’s original 1988 movie ‘Dead Ringers’, Jeremy Irons stars as the Mantle brothers: both doctors –– gynecologists –– and identical twins. Mentally however, one of them is more confident than the other, and always manages to seduce the women he meets. When he's tired of his current partner, she is passed on to the other brother… without her knowing. Everything runs smoothly, at least until an actress visits their clinic, and the shy brother is the first to fall in love. Will they be able to ‘share’ her ?

The concept has now been updated, and gender swapped, to star Rachel Weisz in a limited series. The trailer, set to Soft Cell’s 1981 synth cover of “Tainted Love,” teases a very different storyline compared to the original film, focusing on the twin’s experiments to change the very way women can give birth.

Rachel Weisz in 'Dead Ringers.' Credit: Courtesy of Prime. Copyright: Amazon Studios.

What’s the story for the new ‘Dead Ringers’?

Weisz stars in the lead dual roles of Elliot and Beverly Mantle. They are twin gynecologists who share everything: drugs, lovers, and an unapologetic desire to do whatever it takes — including pushing the boundaries on medical ethics — in an effort to challenge antiquated practices and bring women’s health care to the forefront.

The twins are very different despite their identical faces –– and that, plus their drive to change the field of medicine promises some big trouble ahead.

Jennifer Ehle in 'Dead Ringers.' Credit: Niko Tavernise/Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon Studios.

Who else is involved in ‘Dead Ringers’?

Rachel Weisz also serves as an executive producer for the limited series, which is created, written, and executive produced by Emmy-nominated writer and playwright Alice Birch, who worked on ‘Normal People’.

Sean Durkin (who made ‘Martha Marcy May Marlene’, ‘The Nest’, and upcoming wrestling drama ‘The Iron Claw’) directed the first two episodes and co-directed the last episode of the series. The directing roster also boasts ‘Jennifer’s Body’s Karyn Kusama, ‘Snowfall’ veteran Karena Evans and ‘Y: The Last Man’s Lauren Wolkstein.

And in front of the camera, ‘Dead Ringers’ ensemble cast includes Britne Oldford as Genevieve, Poppy Liu as Greta, Michael Chernus as Tom, Jennifer Ehle as Rebecca and Emily Meade as Susan.

In an unusual move, the trailer’s release was actually delayed by a day in light of the Nashville school shooting which left three children and three adults dead. The release was delayed out of respect for the families and victims of the tragedy, not due to the content of the series or trailer, which does not involve a shooting.

All six episodes of ‘Dead Ringers’ will launch on Prime Video on April 21st.