Netflix releases a trailer for the new series Dead to Me. Created by American comedian Liz Feldman, the dark comedy stars Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini. In April 2018, Dead to Me was officially ordered by Netflix.
Dead to Me is co-produced by Will Ferrell, Adam McKay, and Gloria Sanchez Productions - the sister company of Gary Sanchez Productions. Applegate portrays Jen, a grieving widow trying to move forward with her life. In the other main role, Cardellini portrays Judy, a mysterious woman who befriends Jen and ultimately moves into her home. The women have conflicting personalities but manage to bond through their shared grief. However, the revelation of a shocking secret could change their friendship forever. Dead to Me’s creator, Feldman, performed with the esteemed comedy troupes The Second City and The Groundlings, and she later won four Emmy Awards while writing for The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In the past, Feldman has written for Blue Collar TV, 2 Broke Girls, and The Academy Awards. She also created the short-lived NBC sitcom One Big Happy starring Elisha Cuthbert.
Today, Netflix released the Dead to Me official trailer. The clip begins with Applegate struggling to connect with a well-meaning friend who stops by for a visit. In graphic detail, Jen specifically describes the death of her husband, which sets the tone for the trailer’s dark comedy. From there, Jen attends a California support group called “Friends of Heaven,” where she meets Cardellini’s Judy. After an awkward first encounter, a party montage shows how their friendship progresses, culminating with Judy moving into Jen’s home. In the trailer’s second half, Judy is presented as a peculiar character, someone “who could be a crazy person.” When the police show up looking for Judy, Jen is forced to confront her new friend about the past, which seems to be the foundation for the series’ primary conflict. As a tagline, Netflix uses the phrase “Misery Just Found Company,” suggesting that Judy and Jen will prioritize their personal happiness first and foremost. The series co-stars Max Jenkins, James Marsden, and Ed Asner. Watch the full Dead to Me trailer below and check out the first look photos.
While Applegate has a filmography that dates back to 1981, she’s primarily known for her extensive TV resume. From 1987 to 1997, Applegate portrayed Kelly Bundy on the Fox sitcom Married… with Children, and later starred in the late 90s NBC sitcom Jesse. More recently, she had main roles on ABC’s Samantha Who and NBC’s Up All Night. On the big screen, Applegate teamed up with the aforementioned Gary Sanchez Productions in the Anchorman franchise, in which she portrays Veronica Corningstone.
As for Cardellini, she’s similarly known for her vast television resume. From 1999 to 2000, she starred alongside pre-fame Seth Rogen and James Franco in Paul Feig’s NBC series Freaks and Geeks. In addition, she portrayed Samantha Taggart on NBC’s ER for 125 episodes. Cardellini recently starred in the Netflix drama series Bloodline, which concluded its three-season run in 2017.
Given the names attached, Dead to Me has the potential to be another Netflix hit. On one level, the showrunners can use their traditional comedy experience for fundamental laughs, all while infusing the series with visceral narrative depth to complement the jokes. And with TV veterans Applegate and Cardellini as the protagonists, or maybe even the anti-heroes, Netflix will attract their existing fanbases.
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Dead to Me premieres Friday May 3 on Netflix.
Source: Netflix
