The summer is no longer a time when television slows down and networks air reruns on an endless, mind numbing loop. FX is taking full advantage of what used to be a lull in original programming and offering viewers a new drama titled Tyrant, alongside season two of The Bridge.
The network has just released the first trailer for the series and if you’re looking for something to add to your DVR queue, this looks like a solid bet. Tyrant comes from Homeland producers Howard Gordon and Gideon Raff, and centers around a seemingly average American family that heads to the Middle East to visit their politically-inclined family for the wedding of a relative.
Tyrant clearly sets itself up to offer some social commentary on a subject that is still very much taboo in a certain sense. The American version of the Middle East doesn’t account for personal tales, it’s a generalization, and judging by the three-minute first look at the series, this show will take a different approach to unveiling the hidden depth of a society often portrayed in a negative light. The main character, played by Adam Rayner, is both an outsider, as an American, and an insider, by birthright.
Although it was originally reported that the pilot would be shot by Ang Lee, Harry Potter director David Yates took the helm. Rayner stars along with Jennifer Finnigan, Ashraf Barhom, Moran Atias, Noah Silver, Anne Winters, Fares Fares, Salim Daw, Justin Kirk, Jordana Spiro, Mehdi Dehbi, and Alice Krige. And, even though I couldn’t find her in the trailer, I can’t wait to see how Spiro fares amidst the high-stakes drama.
Take a look at the trailer for Tyrant below and tell us what you like (or don’t like)!