The catastrophic nuclear accident at Chernobyl is considered arguably the most disastrous nuclear power plant accident in history. 31 people died directly because of it and in the 30 years since it happened, it continues to affect the region as well as the people and animals that surround it.

In that sense, it’s surprising we haven’t seen many well-made depictions of what happened. HBO is looking to change that with the news that they have greenlit a miniseries about the tragic events.

The five-part series will focus on the scientists and others who fought and died to save the world from an even greater disaster in April 1986 when a reactor exploded at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine.

Jared Harris, best known to American audiences as Mad Men’s Lane Pryce or Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, will star in the miniseries. He will portray Valery Legasov, the scientist sent by the Russian government to investigate the accident. Without giving away too much, Legasov’s investigation and the fallout from it is a major part of the story long after the accident was over.

Craig Mazin (The Huntsman: Winter’s War) is the writer while Johan Renck (Breaking Bad) will direct the series.

The miniseries is actually a co-production between HBO and Sky Television, a UK-based digital TV service.

[Variety]

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.