Clark Backo continues her journey through New York’s underbelly in this week’s upcoming episode of The Changeling. An exclusive clip, which you can watch below, shows her character, Emma, visiting a harmonious and diverse underground society where no gender, race or status divides exist. In the Apple TV+ horror-fantasy series, Backo portrays a new mom who begins to suffer emotionally and eventually vanishes without a trace. Her husband, Apollo (LaKeith Stanfield) seeks out to find her, which takes them both (and viewers) through some of New York’s subcultures. You can check out the clip below:
According to the show’s synopsis, The Changeling is a “horror story, a parenthood fable and a perilous odyssey through a New York City you didn’t know existed.” Based on the 2017 bestselling novel of the same name by Victor LaValle and described as “fairytale for grown-ups” by Apple TV+, the series combines European mythology, African folklore, and American beliefs to explore themes of trauma and post-partum depression. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, director and executive producer Jonathan van Tulleken shared how writer Kelly Marcel worked to honor the show’s source material:
“Kelly wanted to write something that was challenging and evocative, and dealt with very complex issues in the way that the best horror and, frankly, fairytales, can. That’s what stories are there to do: Help us engage with real trauma and real pain. And she wanted to do that in a way that honored the novel. The novel is a very sophisticated piece of writing and Victor is amazing at using the genre to smuggle big, and also personal and evocative, ideas to hook people in and make them think,” he said.
The eight-episode series, which kicked off on September 8, concludes on October 13. No word yet on whether The Changeling will return for a second season.
LaKeith Stanfield and Clark Backo Lead The Changeling
Along with Stanfield and Backo, The Changeling stars Adina Porter (American Horror Story), Samuel T. Herring (Titane), Alexis Louder (Violent Night), Jared Abrahamson (American Animals) and features Malcolm Barrett (Dear White People). The series’ cast has earned praise for their portrayals.
Stanfield made his feature film debut with 2013’s Short Term 12, which earned the actor an Independent Spirit Award nomination. Other notable credits include roles in Selma, Straight Outta Compton, Sorry to Bother You, FX’s Atlanta, and Judas and the Black Messiah, for which he earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He most recently appeared in Walt Disney’s remake of Haunted Mansion and will next star in Jeymes Samuel’s anticipated epic The Book of Clarence, which set for release early 2024.
Backo is best known for her recurring role as Rosie in the award-winning Canadian sitcom Letterkenny. She has also appeared on series including Designated Survivor, Wynonna Earp, Supernatural, and The Handmaid’s Tale. On film, she is best known for her ACTRA-nominated performance in Happy Place and co-starring in Prime Video’s comedy I Want You Back alongside Charlie Day.
The Changeling is adapted by Kelly Marcel (Cruella), who also serves as showrunner and an executive producer alongside Megan Ellison, Patrick Chu, and Ali Krug under the Annapurna banner, book author LaValle, David Knoller, Jonathan van Tulleken, Stanfield, Sue Naegle, Melina Matsoukas, and David Wolkis. Khaliah Neal serves as co-executive producer. LaValle narrates the story.
“Aftermath,” The Changeling‘s sixth episode, is out tomorrow, September 29.
