Do you like Oscar-winning actress Jessica Chastain and supernatural happenings? What about podcasts? If you've answered yes to any of these, we've got some good news for you. The folks at Audible have announced a new original scripted podcast titled The Space Within that will be produced by and star Chastain, of It Chapter Two and Mama fame. Topic Studios, Freckle Films, Solaris Productions and Ramble Road are behind the production, which will be distributed by Audible.
An A-list ensemble voice cast will join Chastain, includig the likes of Bobby Cannavale, Ellen Burstyn (The Exorcist), Michael Stuhlbarg (The Shape of Water), Shea Whigham (Kong: Skull Island) and Carmen Ejogo (The Purge: Anarchy). The eight-episode "sci-fi mystery" series was written by Greg O'Connor and Josh Fagin, with Stephen Winter directing. As for the story at hand, the official synopsis for the series reads as follows:
“The Audible Original will follow Dr. Madeline Wyle (Chastain), an internationally acclaimed psychiatrist specializing in trauma and PTSD. When she discovers a string of patients with the same, seemingly supernatural, repressed memories, she is forced to risk her reputation and career to confront the possibility that the memories of alien abduction might be real.”
The fact that a cast like this has assembled for a podcast speaks volumes about how far the medium has come in recent years. It's not surprising though, given that podcasts themselves can do quite well in ad/subscription dollars alone. But the big money can come from adaptations, with the likes of Serial and Dr. Death, among many others, eventually being turned into TV shows. We're not necessarily saying that will be the case here, but it's not out of the realm of possibility, depending on how things shake out. Rachel Ghiazza, EVP and Head of US Content at Audible, had this to say:
"The Space Within dynamically blends elements of sci-fi, mystery and thriller. The podcast’s riveting sound effects and storyline are headlined by Jessica Chastain, Bobby Cannavale and Ellen Burstyn—each of whom brings their complex characters to life. We’re thrilled to collaborate with Topic Studios on another stand out series that truly gives our audiences an out-of-world experience."
Christy Gressman, VP of Podcasts for Topic Studios, had this to add:
"It's been a dream bringing The Space Within to life with Jessica, our friends at Audible, Greg, Josh, Stephen, and the rest of our incredible team. We’re excited for listeners to enter this thrilling and thought-provoking world and discover the remarkable performances of these extraordinary actors."
The Space Within arrives June 15 through Audible.
