Netflix has recruited Narcos showrunner Eric Newman, who has an overall deal with the streaming platform, for an upcoming limited series that will tackle the ongoing opioid epidemic.
Painkillers, executive produced by Newman, Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights, The Leftovers), and Alex Gibney (Going Clear, The Inventor) will examine the origins of the epidemic over the course of eight episodes. Berg will also serve as director for all eight episodes. Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster will write as well as serve as showrunners.
This series serves as just one of a few recent and upcoming productions that will highlight the opioid crisis that has claimed the lives of close to 70,000 people in 2019, according to the CDC.
Berg expressed his excitement about bringing the project to life while taking aim at large pharmaceutical companies.
“I am really charged to be a part of such an in-depth exploration of the genesis of the opioid travesty. Companies that profit off of death and addiction are fair game to me when it comes to illuminating the realities of how they go about their business.”
Netflix VP content Cindy Holland, praised the shows production teams, saying, “Eric Newman has masterfully chronicled the drug trade for years, and now I’m excited to see him join forces with the incredible Alex Gibney, Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster to take a more expansive view of the opioid epidemic. Combined with the directing of Peter Berg, Painkiller promises to be a powerful look behind the headlines of a tragedy happening in real-time.”
There is no official premiere date for the series.
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