Netflix has set the full cast for Social Distance, its upcoming quarantine anthology series from Orange is the New Black creator Jenji Kohan. Danielle Brooks (Orange is the New Black), Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Oscar Nunez (The Office), Guillermo Diaz (Scandal), Asante Blackk (When They See Us), Peter Scanavino (Law & Order: SVU), Lachlan Watson (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Max Jenkins (Dead To Me) and Marsha Stephanie Blake (When They See Us) are among those cast in the series created and executive produced by Hilary Weisman Graham (Orange is the New Black). Social Distance premieres globally on Netflix this fall.
Set in the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Social Distance is an eight-part anthology series that showcases the power of the human spirit in the face of uncertainty and isolation. Each standalone episode is told through a virtual lens and captures the unique emotional experience of being forced apart by circumstance and having no choice but to communicate remotely and rely on technology to maintain any sense of connection. Through these varied and deeply human stories, Social Distance aims to provide some much-needed catharsis during a tumultuous time while also capturing a snapshot of this singular moment in history.
The project was conceived, cast and executed entirely remotely during quarantine. The writers never meet during the writing process, Diego Velasco directs talent remotely, Weisman Graham runs production from her living room and the cast acts and films themselves from home. Some of the actors’ real-life relatives also guest star in the series.
“Many of these stories required casting actors who were quarantined with other actors. That hurdle seriously hindered our options and so casting non-actors was sometimes essential,” said Weisman Graham on the decision to cast actors’ family members. “It was definitely a roll of the dice, but thankfully, we were thrilled to discover that talent really does breed talent. These family members may not have had aspirations to be in front of the camera when we first started, but they should all quit their day jobs immediately.”
(Excerpt) Read more in: Deadline