John Boyega and Darren Criss are set to star in a brand new podcast drama called There Be Monsters, which centres around a Silicon Valley startup promising human enhancements.
The scripted 10 part series, which was revealed by Deadline, marks a return to sci-fi for the Stars Wars actor. There Be Monsters is set to drop later this year.
Boyega plays Jack Locke, described as a ‘mysterious hero with a vendetta’, at odds with the company’s CEO Max Fuller (played by Criss).
As Locke investigates Fuller’s body hacking business, it is revealed the company’s human enhancements aren’t all they appear to be.
Other stars involved include Marvel’s Clark Gregg, Marley Shelton and Sahr Ngaujah. Work on the podcast began in 2019, though recording came to a standstill as the coronavirus pandemic shut down the entertainment industry around the world.
However, the podcast (which is produced in conjunction with iHeartRadio, FlynnPictureCo., Psychopia Pictures and UpperRoom Productions) found a safe way to continue as Boyega, Criss and other cast members were sent a ‘Studio in a Box’ so they could record their lines from home.
According to Deadline, the cast of 20 actors and production team video called one another for six hours at a time over different continents - allowing them to act out scenes together, rather than recording their lines in isolation.
Speaking to Deadline, Boyega said he was “thrilled it all came together”: “Getting to explore this format of storytelling whilst also adjusting to new methods of recording with the cast members made it an exciting process.”
The podcast follows Boyega's appearance at the June Black Lives Matter protests in London, during which he addressed the crowd and called the demonstration a “physical representation of our support” for individuals including George Floyd, Sandra Bland, Trayvon Martin and Stephen Lawrence.
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During the emotional speech, he said: “I’m speaking to you from my heart. Look, I don’t know if I’m going to have a career after this, but f*** that.”
Since then, high profile actors, producers and directors have thrown their support behind Boyega. Jordan Peele, Matthew A. Cherry, JJ Abrams and Charlie Brooker have affirmed their support for Boyega - with Peele tweeting: “We got you, John.”