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Even if someone had never heard of Purdue Pharma before 2019, their March settlement with the state of Oklahoma and their September 15 Chapter 11 Bankruptcy filing made national headlines, bringing the opioid crisis into view for those lucky enough not to experience its repercussions. Since then, Purdue Pharma has remained in the news thanks to numerous lawsuits and the making of two miniseries -- Hulu's Dopesick, released in 2021, and this year's Painkiller, streaming on Netflix.

Both Dopesick and Painkiller look at the development and release of OxyContin by Purdue Pharma, which began in the late 1990s, as well as the patients who were impacted by it, the doctors who prescribed it, and the U.S. Attorney's case that led to the company's ultimate demise. The differences lie in how they tackle the story, and in their source material -- Dopesick is based on Beth Macy's 2018 book of the same name,...

Netflix's original series Painkiller tackles the sensitive and serious topic of the ongoing opioid crisis happening in America, especially in relation to the production of the pharmaceutical drug known as OxyContin. While this series is dramatized and certain aspects are fictionalized for the sake of storytelling, it was inspired by real-life events and the true stories of those who are responsible for the production of OxyContin. The series was also based on two nonfiction books about the opioid crisis: Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe and Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America's Opioid Epidemic by Barry Meier.

Painkiller explores OxyContin's devastating effects on the lives of those prescribed it. The drug is highly addictive and created to induce withdrawal symptoms if used as prescribed by doctors. This means that people become quite easily dependent on the drug to manage their pain, and their...

Based on Patrick Radden Keefe’s New Yorker article “The Family That Built an Empire” and Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic by Barry Meier, “Painkiller” is an eye-opening and deeply engrossing series from Netflix. I spent some time with Executive Producer Eric Newman and Consulting Producer and Author

The post Inside the World of Netflix’s “Painkiller” appeared first on Manny the Movie Guy.

Richard Sackler is likely not interested in watching the Painkiller series, according to the author who wrote the Painkiller book, and would not want to be told about it, showing his lack of remorse for the opioid epidemic. In a deposition, Sackler admitted to not reading the agreed statement of facts that his family's company had pled guilty to, revealing his indifference and lack of responsibility. Netflix's Painkiller depicts the principal figures behind the opioid crisis, with Richard Sackler shown as the lead antagonist.

Painkiller author Barry Meier explains why Richard Sackler won't ever watch the Netflix drama, which features Sackler as the lead antagonist. Based on Meier's book of the same name, and a New Yorker article on the Sackler family by Patrick Radden Keefe, Painkiller is a six-episode show that focuses on the start of the opioid epidemic. It particularly focuses on Purdue Pharma, a company...

The recent Supreme Court ruling to block a settlement deal that would have shielded the Sackler family from civil litigation over their former company, Purdue Pharma, and its role in the opioid epidemic came at an opportune time for Netflix. The Sacklers were in the news again just as the streaming platform premiered Painkiller, a limited series about the origins of the opioid crisis via Purdue marketing OxyContin for use as a prescription painkiller. Inspired by Barry Meier’s Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic, the Peter Berg-produced adaptation centered on a series of fictionalized protagonists but identified the Sacklers specifically as the culprits at the root of the problem.

When Barry Meier first published what would become his explosive book Pain Killer back in 2003, which investigated the billionaire scions behind Purdue Pharma and the drug OxyContin, it was optioned by production firm Anonymous Content. But, the author says, Hollywood wasn’t actually ready to tell the story. “They had a very hard time selling a script at that point, because Purdue had not been indicted yet by the Justice Department,” Meier tells The Hollywood Reporter. “So people in Hollywood were going, ‘Are these good guys; are they bad guys? How do we cast this?’ Well, by 2007, it was pretty clear that this company had pled guilty to a federal crime, and that OxyContin had planted the seed and was the gateway drug to this horrible opioid epidemic that was still unfolding.”

Nearly 20 years later, after Patrick Radden Keefe’s New Yorker article “The Family That Built the Empire of...

Painkiller combines real and fictional characters to expose Purdue Pharma's influence on the nation and the opioid crisis. Glen Kryger represents one side of the crisis, showcasing the dark side of using Oxycontin. Glen Kryger is a composite character inspired by real people affected by Purdue and Oxycontin. His storyline is important because it humanizes the consequences of the drug and puts a face to those deeply impacted by Purdue's actions. Despite not being based on a real person, Glen Kryger serves as the face of many victims struggling with addiction due to Oxycontin. Taylor Kitsch's performance effectively captures the pain and hardship caused by the drug.

Netflix's limited series Painkiller features Taylor Kitsch as Glen Kryger, and his dramatic performance has viewers questioning if Kryger is based on a real person. Painkiller dramatizes reality by combining characters based on real people with fictional characters to expose Purdue...

Painkiller’s Peter Berg is unfazed by the Dopesick comparison.

Concurrent development of similar projects is a tale as old as time in Hollywood, and while it might be a negative for disaster flicks such as 1998’s Armageddon and Deep Impact, Berg views the Painkiller–Dopesick situation as a positive. It means that more and more people are able to learn about the still-ongoing opioid crisis and the massive role that Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family played in its origin. This story has also been told in other films and documentaries, so Berg’s Netflix series with EP Eric Newman, which debuted atop the streamer’s U.S. TV chart with 7.2 million views, and Danny Strong’s Hulu series are by no means alone. And similar to Berg, each present-and-past storyteller likely welcomes additional stories into the fold until this crisis is finally solved.

One of the most devastating aspects of the series,...

The limited Netflix series Painkiller, based on the book by Barry Meier and the New Yorker Magazine article “The Family that Built the Empire of Pain” by Patrick Radden Keefe, explores the origins of the opioid crisis in America and the destruction that it has left in its wake. Through a fictionalized retelling of events, the story illustrates how wealth, power, and greed led to mistruths that forever altered lives that were destroyed by the invention of OxyContin and the betrayal of public trust.

Uzo Aduba's character, Edie Flowers, is a fictional composite of real investigators who looked into Purdue Pharma and OxyContin. Edie Flowers, the fictional character, opposes the real-life pharmaceutical tycoon Richard Sackler, who was involved in the development of OxyContin. The show's creators wanted a singular hero to represent the investigators' efforts, which is why they created Edie Flowers as the central character for dramatic purposes.

Uzo Aduba stars in Painkiller, which was inspired by the opioid crisis, and some wonder if Aduba's character, Edie Flowers, is based on a real person or is entirely fictional. The Netflix limited series centers around Edie, an investigator with the United States Attorney's Office tasked with looking into Purdue Pharma and the company's manufactured drug, OxyContin. The story is based on Barry Meier's 2003 non-fiction book Pain Killer and Patrick Radden Keefe's 2017 New Yorker article "The Family That Built an Empire of Pain.

This article contains spoilers for Painkiller.

The ending of Netflix‘s Painkiller puts a lot of energy into properly punishing its antagonist Richard Sackler (Matthew Broderick).

The series, which Netflix is careful to note is a fictionalized retelling of true events, concludes with Richard being beaten to a bloody pulp by the ghostly apparition of his legacy-obsessed uncle Arthur Sackler (Clark Gregg). Richard is merely trying to explain to his uncle that the Sackler family and their Purdue Pharma company has cut a pretty good deal with the government to avoid criminal punishment for their role in developing the drug OxyContin and perpetuating the opioid crisis. But Arthur is just not having it.

In-between violent punches to Richard’s face, Arthur decries his nephew’s decision to give even an inch to prosecutors, screaming, “You were weak. You conceded. I don’t care about immunity. You tore down the name that I built.

HBO’s Ballers, the docuseries Depp v. Heard, the Adam Sandler-produced You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah and interactive rom-com Choose Love are among the new projects debuting on Netflix in August.

After adding all five seasons of Insecure last month, in the first time an HBO original series was available on Netflix in the U.S., Netflix is adding yet another HBO title on Aug. 15: the Dwayne Johnson-fronted Ballers.

The streamer is also set to add HBO series Band of Brothers, The Pacific and Six Feet Under at a future date, due to a co-exclusive deal with Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s headline-making 2022 defamation case, over a Washington Post op-ed in which Heard called herself a domestic abuse survivor, is the subject of the three-part Depp v. Heard docuseries, which combines footage that was televised and livestreamed...

When you think of Matthew Broderick, the first thing that comes to mind likely isn't greedy big pharma billionaire. The Emmy nominee's career is defined by being likable and easy to root for, from his turn as the titular iconic delinquent from Ferris Bueller's Day Off to Colonel Robert Gould Shaw in the Civil War epic Glory and as Simba in the animated classic The Lion King. For Painkiller, however, he's playing wildly against type as Purdue Pharma CEO Richard Sackler, the architect of the opioid epidemic. Speaking to Collider's Christina Radish, producers Eric Newman and Barry Meier explained their reasoning by committing to Broderick as their star.

Creators Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster are sending a weighty message with their new Netflix miniseries Painkiller. Pulling from Patrick Radden Keefe's New Yorker article "The Family That Built an Empire of Pain" and Barry Meier’s novel Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic, the series explores the genesis of the opioid crisis from the perspective of Purdue Pharma and its wealthy CEO Richard Sackler as well as the victims whose lives were destroyed because of the vital yet highly addictive drug OxyContin. For as deeply troubling as the story is, it's one worth telling and understanding as it demonstrates how the wealthiest benefactors can profit under everyone's nose while real people suffer.

Painkiller is a drama miniseries created by Micah Fitzerman-Blue. The Netflix series is based on Patrick Radden Keefe‘s New Yorker article “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain” and Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic by Barry Meier. Painkiller tells the origin story of the opioid crisis mainly through Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin. So, if you liked Painkiller here are some more dramatic shows you could watch next.

Dopesick (Hulu) Credit – Hulu

Synopsis: From Executive Producer Danny Strong and starring and executive produced by Michael Keaton, “Dopesick” examines how one company triggered the worst drug epidemic in American history. The series takes viewers to the epicenter of America’s struggle with opioid addiction, from the boardrooms of Big Pharma, to a distressed Virginia mining community, to the hallways of the DEA.

The Dropout (Hulu) Credit – Hulu

Synopsis: Money.

The limited Netflix series Painkiller, based on the book by Barry Meier and the New Yorker Magazine article “The Family that Built the Empire of Pain” by Patrick Radden Keefe, explores the origins of the opioid crisis in America and the destruction that it has left in its wake. Through a fictionalized retelling of events, the story illustrates how wealth, power, and greed led to mistruths that forever altered lives that were destroyed by the invention of OxyContin and the betrayal of public trust.

Netflix’s new limited series “Painkiller” tackles the Sackler dynasty and Purdue Pharma’s role in the opioid crisis through a fictional retelling of the epidemic — similar to Hulu’s 2021-released “Dopesick.”

“Painkiler” EP and director Pete Berg says the coincidence was simply a matter of timing.

“We were sort of moving at the same pace,” Berg told TheWrap about the Netflix six-episode series and “Dopesick.” “Both shows were in development around the same time, which happens every once in a while and our business. They went first.”

“Dopesick,” which premiered October 2021, stars Kaitlyn Dever, Michael Stuhlbarg and Michael Keaton, whose portrayal of a doctor getting bit by addiction Berg called “shattering.” Centering on similar themes of the destruction prompted by the opioid epidemic, “Painkiller,” which was released Thursday on Netflix, balances its critique of the Sackler family — led by Matthew Broderick’s Richard Sackler — with touching vignettes portrayed by Uzo Aduba,...

Making a compelling show about the opioid crisis was certainly a challenge for “Painkiller” executive producer Eric Newman — especially one that kept viewers engaged for the entirety of the Netflix six-episode limited series without feeling like the show was overly burdensome emotionally.

“Because so many people know someone [or] have lost someone from opioid abuse, it can appear daunting, to jump into a show on the subject, and we were very conscious about not wanting it to feel an exercise in grief,” Newman told TheWrap.

With the hopes that Netflix’s broad reach will share the tragic story of the epidemic that has destroyed so many lives and crushed an uncountable number of families — and “why it can’t happen again” — with as many people as possible, the “Painkiller” team adjusted the series’ tone to ensure viewers would stick it out until the end.

“The tone, the casting, all of it...

Netflix's "Painkiller" tells the story of how one family built a business that helped launch the opioid crisis, and how they evaded real consequences for a long time even amid ongoing legal struggles. The limited series, which premieres on Aug. 10, is based on Patrick Radden Keefe's 2017 New Yorker article "The Family That Built an Empire of Pain" and Barry Meier's book "Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America's Opioid Epidemic," which both chronicle how Purdue Pharma - led by the Sackler family - obscured the truth about their product OxyContin.

Are the Characters in "Painkiller" Based on Real People?

"Painkiller" is a scripted series, but it sticks closely to real-life events as it traces the rise and fall of the Sackler family's empire. Most of its main characters are fictional, including Edie Flowers (Uzo Aduba), a lawyer from Virginia who, in the series,...

If the facts don’t rattle you, then surely Painkiller, the new Netflix miniseries about the sketchy rise of OxyContin and the alarming opioid crisis it spawned will. Let’s start with the facts: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an average of 44 people died each day in 2020 “from overdoses involving prescription opioids, totaling more than 16,000 deaths.” Additionally, prescription opioids were involved in nearly 24% of all opioid overdose deaths that year, which was a 16% increase in prescription opioid-involved deaths from 2019 to 2020.

Now, on to Painkiller, the miniseries with director Peter Berg and editor Geofrey Hildrew at the helm. The outing is a fictionalized retelling of the origins and aftermath of America’s opioid crisis, shining the spotlight on the victims, perpetrators, and justice-seekers whose lives were forever altered by the birth of OxyContin.

This might be yet another outing that looks so glaringly at billionaire Richard Sackler,...

Just about everything you need to hear from “Painkiller” is conveyed within its familiar yet hard-hitting first hour. There’s an aptly scathing introduction to the Sackler family, starting with Arthur (Clark Gregg), who transformed the pharmaceutical industry through public-facing advertising campaigns, then his nephew/”disciple,” Richard (Matthew Broderick), who followed his uncle’s playbook when pushing OxyContin to the masses. Next there’s Shannon Schaeffer (West Duchovny), a broke college grad who’s recruited by the Sackler’s company, Purdue, to help push their new wonder drug to doctors. Then there’s Glen Kryger (Taylor Kitsch), a loving husband and father who’s prescribed — you guessed it — OxyContin after an on-the-job injury. And finally, providing the framework for all these stories, there’s Edie Flowers (Uzo Aduba), a lawyer at the U.S. Attorney’s office who was among the first to investigate the tragic impact of OxyContin — and...

There are more than a handful of moments when watching Painkiller that it seems obvious this Netflix miniseries is bound to rack up several Emmy nominations. Director Peter Berg’s (Friday Night Lights) directing is on the mark, as is Geofrey Hildrew’s (Once Upon a Time) exceptional editing, making these episodes move along at a lightning speed pace. Showrunners/creators Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster are at the top of their game, and the overall story, which tracks the rise of OxyContin, and the opioid epidemic that followed, has never been timelier.

Then there’s the delightful Uzo Aduba, who stands out as Edie Flowers, an investigator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office whose relentless quest to uncover the truth about the OxyContin crisis drives this boldly executed endeavor toward must-see status.

Sure, Matthew Broderick chews up scenery as billionaire Richard Sackler, the money-hungry yet flighty (as he’s portrayed...

While Fentanyl now dominates headlines as the drug wreaking havoc on our society, back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was OxyContin that led conversations about the impact of overprescribed opioids. Formulated, produced, marketed and sold by the family-run organization Purdue Pharma, Oxy quickly grew in popularity because it was marketed as a safe, “non-addictive” opioid. Oxy was then pushed onto patients through respected healthcare professionals who were misinformed about the drug and profited greatly from prescribing it.

Barry Meier’s book “Pain Killer” and the New Yorker article “The Family That Built the Empire of Pain,” by Patrick Radden Keefe, documented the rise of OxyContin and the lasting impact it had here in the U.S., and both serve as the foundation for Netflix’s new limited series “Painkiller.” Directed by Peter Berg, the show is a fictionalized account of the opioid epidemic as told from the perspective of the survivors,...

Cults come in many shapes, sizes and forms, not all of them involving a charismatic figurehead, secluded hideaway, or cache of weapons. Sometimes, as in Netflix’s lively new Sackler family takedown Painkiller, the angels of death are short-skirted sales reps, heroin Barbies who scream their heads off at sales “conferences” and seduce doctors with gifts, hefty speaker fees, and, sometimes, sex. They’re paid handsomely, plied with Porsches and luxury apartments, all for spreading the lethal lies that Oxycontin isn’t terribly addictive and doctors are professionally if not...

‘Painkiller‘ is a limited series directed by Peter Berg, and starring Uzo Aduba and Matthew Broderick. The series has premiered on Netflix on August 10th.

It is based on the investigative news articles “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain” by Patrick Radden Keefe and “Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic” by Barry Meier.

Premise

This drama delves into the origins and aftermath of the opioid epidemic in America, shedding light on the individuals responsible, the victims affected, and an investigator determined to uncover the truth.

About the Series

Many of us know how the Purdue Pharma / Sackler saga went down. In the six episodes of “Painkiller” we are offered a recount, in fictionalized form, of the events that left the Sackler family in disgrace thanks to the case against Purdue Pharma concerning the pharmaceutical’s pushing of OxyContin into the market,...

‘Painkiller‘ is a limited series directed by Peter Berg, and starring Uzo Aduba and Matthew Broderick. The series has premiered on Netflix on August 10th.

It is based on the investigative news articles “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain” by Patrick Radden Keefe and “Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic” by Barry Meier.

Premise

This drama delves into the origins and aftermath of the opioid epidemic in America, shedding light on the individuals responsible, the victims affected, and an investigator determined to uncover the truth.

About the Series

Many of us know how the Purdue Pharma / Sackler saga went down. In the six episodes of “Painkiller” we are offered a recount, in fictionalized form, of the events that left the Sackler family in disgrace thanks to the case against Purdue Pharma concerning the pharmaceutical’s pushing of OxyContin into the market,...

Adam McKay’s name is nowhere to be found in the credits for Painkiller, for the very good reason that he had nothing to do with it.

Yet it’s hard not to see his influence all over the Netflix miniseries. It’s there in the restless pacing, in the heavy-handed metaphors, in the choice to have the entire thing narrated by a character who all but reaches out from the screen to grab the audience by the lapels and shake them into action.

And it’s there, too, in the accompanying limitations. Painkiller, created by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harper, presumably intends for all that flash to draw attention to its weighty central narrative about the launch of OxyContin and the ensuing opioid epidemic. But it overshoots that mark. The style is so ostentatious it distracts from the substance, even as it means to hammer home how important that substance really is.

It’s hard to say how “Painkiller,” a fictionalized Netflix limited series based on America’s opioid crisis, would play had one never seen the similarly themed and structured – and vastly superior – 2021 Hulu limited series “Dopesick.”

The new show’s misuse of lead actors Uzo Aduba, who plays a crusading U.S. Attorney’s office investigator, and Matthew Broderick, who plays real-life former Purdue Pharma head Richard Sackler – would be evident either way. So would director Peter Berg’s overuse of early aughts-style rock ‘em sock ‘em shaky camera work, quick edits and blue light.

But “Painkiller” likely would not seem so wholly unnecessary if “Dopesick” did not exist.

Unfolding over six hour-long episodes, “Painkiller” makes compelling points about Purdue, the pharmaceutical company that overhyped the painkilling potential of its drug OxyContin while underplaying its addictive qualities. Characters repeatedly call OxyContin what it is: heroin in candy coating. Such frankness...

Where to Watch Powered by Painkiller is a Netflix miniseries that takes a fictionalized approach to exploring the events that led to the opioid epidemic in America. The show provides multiple perspectives on the story, including investigators, the Sackler family, drug reps, and those affected by addiction. The cast, led by Uzo Aduba and Clark Gregg, delivers standout performances, bringing authenticity and depth to their characters.

Painkiller is a fictionalized retelling of the events that led to the opioid epidemic in America. The show depicts the origins of OxyContin's invention, the marketing scheme that got so many doctors prescribing it and so many patients addicted to it, and how one family started this chain of events. The miniseries tells this story from the perspectives of investigators, the Sackler family, the drug reps, and the people whose lives were destroyed by OxyContin.

Painkiller stars a powerhouse cast led by Uzo Aduba,...

August has arrived, and with it, the last full month of summer-worthy shows and flicks, at least for 2023. From all the summer sensations to food weather, carnival fun and, of course, the lack of school, the streamer’s film slate will update with some appropriate flicks like “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2,” “Eat Pray Love,” “Despicable Me” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” respectively.

If you’re one of those who senses the change in the air as soon as the salty summer heat gives way to crisp fall fog, “Heartstopper” Season 2, complete with its cartoon drawings of leaves, waits for you starting August 3. “The Lincoln Lawyer: Season 2 Part 2” concludes the two-part followup to the legal drama starring Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. “Heart of Stone,” a big tentpole film starring Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan, promises action-lovers a good time.

For those who didn’t get enough of the Depp v.

In some ways, August is a month of endings, at least on television. Both Billions and Archer begin their final seasons as does a great, unusual comedy covered below. But as melancholy as that sounds, there’s plenty of new stuff on the horizon, too, including everything from a new take on (part of) Dracula and an ambitious miniseries about the opioid crisis. We’ll kick things off with a fresh take on an old favorite. Here’s everything you should watch in theaters, plus more on Prime Video, Hulu,...

"Painkiller" is a new 6-episode drama TV series, created by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster, based on Patrick Radden Keefe's "New Yorker" magazine article "The Family That Built an Empire of Pain" and the book "Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic" by Barry Meier, streaming August 10, 2023 on Netflix:

"...the series follows the birth of the opioid crisis...

"...with an emphasis on 'Purdue Pharma', manufacturer of 'OxyContin'..."

Click the images to enlarge...

Calling all Bravoholics! Fans will be able to purchase three-day tickets for the upcoming BravoCon beginning Friday, July 21 at 12 p.m. Et/ 9 a.m. Pt, NBCU announced on Thursday.

Fans who decide to purchase tickets on July 21, will have the choice between the three-day “Bravoholic” general admission and “Future Bravolebrity” VIP tickets for the Las Vegas event.

The annual convention will relocate for the 2023 event and take place from Nov. 3-5 at Caesars Forum on the Las Vegas Strip. Fans will have the opportunity to attend over 60 live events that will host their favorite cast members, from several Bravo franchises including “The Real Housewives,” “Vanderpump Rules,” “Below Deck,” “Southern Charm,” “Summer House” and “Winter House.” In between attending live events, fans will have the opportunity to shop around the Bravo Bazaar, attend VIP talent meet and greets and participate in immersive activations.

In addition to panels with the casts, fans...

The ‘Coming Soon to TV’ shelf in your local bookshop will be sagging under the weight of this lot – the thrillers, sci-fi stories, crime novels and non-fiction currently being adapted for television. If you prefer to read ahead before your imagination is sullied by the small screen version, then here’s where to start, from Apple TV+’s adaptation of 1950s-set revenge comedy Lessons in Chemistry and psychological thriller The Crowded Room, to Prime Video’s new Neil Gaiman show Anansi Boys and rumoured Kay Scarpetta series, via Netflix’s true-life opioid drama Painkiller, Itvx/MGM+ historical adventure series The Winter King and many more. Many many more.

It’s too soon to say when we’ll see those planned adaptations below which are yet to film, given the current WGA Writers’ Strike and earth-shifts taking place among the streaming networks whose pile ‘em high, sell ‘em cheap model is proving unsustainable,...

New reality show “Drag Me To Dinner” will make its debut on Hulu on May 31. In each episode, two teams of drag queens will compete to see who can throw the most fabulous dinner party. The champion will be crowned by judges Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka, drag superstar Bianca Del Rio, and Haneefah Wood. Harris and husband Burtka — who is an actor and cookbook author — serve as executive producers. Actor, comedian, and drag king Murray Hill will host the series.

Watch the “Drag Me To Dinner” trailer: 30-Day Free Trial $7.99+ / month hulu.com

The final season of “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” will premiere on Prime Video on July 14. The popular spy series stars John Krasinski who has graduated from spy to deputy director of the CIA. The fourth season will see Clancy’s iconic character cope with drug cartels, terrorist organizations, a series of suspicious black ops, and a domestic conspiracy.

New images from the upcoming Netflix drama Painkiller see Matthew Broderick as Purdue Pharma President Richard Sackler at the height of the opioid crisis in America. The last time Netflix collaborated with the Ferris Bueller's Day Off star was in 2019, when the adventure comedy show Daybreak threw Broderick into the apocalypse. Painkiller also marks Broderick's first TV role since 2019.

Now, Entertainment Weekly has released images from Painkiller, revealing Broderick as Sackler at the height of America's opioid crisis. The series of images also reveal the other characters in the series whose lives are impacted by Purdue's OxyContin, alongside those seeking justice for the affected. A release date of August 10 was also revealed. Check out the behind-the-scenes images below:

8 Images

Close Everything We Know About Painkiller

Painkiller will be a six-episode limited series focusing on the beginning of the opioid crisis and the role of OxyContin, a pain management drug sold by Purdue.

Netflix has another limited series on tap for later this year, and it's sure to be one of the most talked-about shows of the year.

The streaming service on Monday dropped the first look photos and premiere date for Painkiller.

The highly-anticipated drama touches down on Thursday, August 10.

Netflix stresses that the series is "a fictionalized retelling of events."

Painkiller "explores some of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, highlighting the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin."

"An examination of crime, accountability, and the systems that have repeatedly failed hundreds of thousands of Americans, Painkiller is based on the book Pain Killer by Barry Meier and the New Yorker Magazine article 'The Family That Built the Empire of Pain' by Patrick Radden Keefe."

The series is executive produced by Eric Newman, Pete Berg, Alex Gibney,...

Netflix has just released an exclusive first look at the new limited series drama that’s due to hit the service later this summer. Painkiller features an all-star cast and deals with one of the many crises that currently plagues our world — the opioid epidemic. The series will feature six episodes that clock in at an hour an episode. It stars an ensemble that includes Uzo Aduba, Matthew Broderick, Taylor Kitsch, Dina Shihabi, West Duchovny, and John Rothman.

The official synopsis from Netflix reads,

“A fictionalized retelling of events, Painkiller is a scripted limited series that explores some of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, highlighting the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin. An examination of crime, accountability, and the systems that have repeatedly failed hundreds of thousands of Americans, Painkiller is based on the...

The Netflix six-part limited series “Painkiller” starring Uzo Aduba, Matthew Broderick, Taylor Kitsch, Dana Shihabi and West Duchovny will premiere August 10 on the streamer, it was announced this morning. The scripted series – inspired by real events and based on the book “Pain Killer” by Barry Meier and the New Yorker magazine article “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain” by Patrick Radden Keefe, both of whom are consultants on the series – surrounds America’s opioid epidemic and the Sackler family. All six installments are directed by two-time Emmy nominee Peter Berg, who also serves as an executive producer.

The series will highlight “the stories of the perpetrators, victims and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin.” “Painkillers” also examines “the crime, accountability and the systems that have repeatedly failed hundreds of thousands of Americans.” Writers Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster are the creators/showrunners, while...

Matthew Broderick and Uzo Aduba are teaming up in Netflix’s limited series Painkiller, which will make its debut on Thursday, Aug. 10, the streamer announced Monday.

According to the official synopsis, Painkiller is a fictionalized retelling of events “that explores some of the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America, highlighting the stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin.” The series serves as “an examination of crime, accountability, and the systems that have repeatedly failed hundreds of thousands of Americans.”

More from TVLineQueen Charlotte: Alicia Keys Enlists Women...

Netflix has unveiled the first look images for “Painkiller,” a new series that explores the origins and aftermath of the opioid crisis in America through a fictional retelling of events.

The six-part limited series, which stars Uzo Aduba, Matthew Broderick, Taylor Kitsch, Dina Shihabi, John Rothman and West Duchovny, will premiere on Netflix Aug. 10.

Billed as an “examination of crime, accountability, and the systems that have repeatedly failed hundreds of thousands of Americans,” the series will spotlight stories of the perpetrators, victims, and truth-seekers whose lives are forever altered by the invention of OxyContin,” per the official logline.

Courtesy of Keri Anderson/Netflix

The scripted series is based on the book of the same name by Barry Meier as well as Patrick Radden Keefe’s article in the New Yorker Magazine titled “The Family That Built the Empire of Pain,” which exposes the Sackler Dynasty’s pivotal role in the opioid epidemic.

Somehow, the uniting power of TV's Friday Night Lights mean that Taylor Kitsch and Peter Berg still wanted to work together after the former starred in and the latter directed Battleship. But it's true! They've already reunited for one Netflix limited series, Painkiller, and they're making plans (along with producer Eric Newman) for American Primeval.

And they've got quite the writer involved, as The Revenant's Mark L. Smith has written the series. American Primeval is described as "a raw, adventurous exploration of the birth of the American West. The violent collisions of cultures, religions and communities as men and women fight and die for control of this new world —– for a land they truly believe is their destiny."

Kitsch will play Isaac, a traumatized man struggling to overcome his demons and find a reason to live in this brutal and punishing world.

"We are very appreciative that Netflix is...

Countless American lives have been touched by opioid addiction or lost to it. And this crisis, more and more, is getting covered by TV. High-profile projects in which opioids play a part include HBO’s “Mare of Easttown,” with Kate Winslet’s title character in slow-motion grief over the loss of her son to drugs, and Showtime’s “American Rust,” featuring Jeff Daniels as a cop in a town governed by its need for pills — who is himself addicted. But Hulu’s “Dopesick,” currently streaming, targets the source of the problem, depicting corporate malfeasance and ineffective government oversight while displaying empathy for those struggling with addiction.

The limited series, starring Michael Keaton and Kaitlyn Dever, has its roots in a real-life crime story — the introduction and marketing of the highly addictive painkiller OxyContin. But in order to convey the ravages of the drug, it borrows a sense of dread from fiction.

Netflix’s Painkiller has added Taylor Kitsch, Ana Cruz Kayne (Jerry and Marge Go Large), Tyler Ritter, John Ales, Sam Anderson, Carolina Bartczak (X-Men: Apocalypse), Jack Mulhern (Mare of Easttown), and Ron Lea (This Is Wonderland) to its cast.

Previously announced cast of the limited drama series about the origins of the opioid crisis and the role of Purdue Pharma include Uzo Aduba, Matthew Broderick, West Duchovny, Dina Shihabi, and John Rothman.

Kitsch will portray Glen Kryger, a hardworking family man whose life is upended after an injury; Kayne plays Brianna Ortiz, an ambitious young attorney; Ritter will bring to life U.S. Attorney John Brownlee; Ales stars as Gregory Fitzgibbons, a doctor in rural Virginia; Anderson plays Raymond Sackler, co-owner of Purdue Pharma; Bartczak portrays Lily Kryger, Glen’s wife,...

Netflix has set the main cast for the upcoming opioid crisis drama “Painkiller,” with Uzo Aduba and Matthew Broderick set to take on two of the lead roles.

The drama, from director Peter Berg and “Narcos” showrunner Eric Newman, will tell the story of the opioid crisis in the U.S. Aduba will play Edie, an investigator leading the case against Purdue Pharma, while Broderick will portray Richard Sackler, scion of the billionaire Sackler family and senior executive at Purdue.

Joining them in the series are West Duchovny as Shannon, a new recruit to the Purdue sales team; Dina Shihabi as Britt, a veteran sales rep for Purdue; and John Rothman as Mortimer Sackler, co-owner of Purdue Pharma.

Berg will direct all six episodes of the series and serve as executive producer. “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” duo Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster are showrunners and executive producers.

The...

Uzo Aduba, who is coming off acclaimed performances in two limited series, Mrs. America and In Treatment, and Matthew Broderick will lead the cast of Painkiller, Netflix’s upcoming limited drama series about the origins of the opioid crisis and the role of Purdue Pharma. West Duchovny (The Magicians), Dina Shihabi (Jack Ryan) and John Rothman (One Mississippi) also star in the project, from executive producers Eric Newman, Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Noah Harpster, Alex Gibney as well as Peter Berg who will direct all episodes.

Aduba will play as Edie, an investigator leading the case against Purdue. Broderick will portray Richard Sackler, scion of the billionaire Sackler family and senior executive at Purdue Pharma.

Duchovny plays Shannon, a new recruit to the Purdue sales team. Shihabi is Britt, a veteran sales rep for Purdue. Rothman plays Mortimer Sackler, co-owner of Purdue Pharma.

Production on the six-episode limited series will begin later this year in Toronto.

Uzo Aduba and Matthew Broderick are set for two of the lead roles in the Netflix drama series “Painkiller,” Variety has learned.

The six-episode limited series is about the origins of the opioid crisis in America. Along with Aduba and Broderick, the series will also star West Duchovny, Dina Shihabi, and John Rothman. Production is set to air later this year in Toronto.

Aduba will star as Edie, an investigator leading the case against Purdue. Broderick will star as Richard Sackler, scion of the billionaire Sackler family and senior executive at Purdue Pharma.

Duchovny will play Shannon, a new recruit to the Purdue sales team. Shihabi will appear as Britt, a veteran sales rep for Purdue. Rothman will play Mortimer Sackler, co-owner of Purdue Pharma.

Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster will write and serve as showrunners and executive producers on the series. The pair recently wrote the screenplay for the...

Netflix has lined up the cast for its limited series Painkiller, about the opioid epidemic.

Uzo Aduba (In Treatment) and Matthew Broderick (The Producers, Better Things) will star in the six-episode series, which will dramatize the origins of the crisis with a focus on Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin. The cast also includes West Duchovny, Dina Shihabi and John Rothman.

Patrick Radden Keefe’s New Yorker article “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain” and Barry Meier’s book Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic serve as source material for the series; both will consult on ...

Netflix has lined up the cast for its limited series Painkiller, about the opioid epidemic.

Uzo Aduba (In Treatment) and Matthew Broderick (The Producers, Better Things) will star in the six-episode series, which will dramatize the origins of the crisis with a focus on Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin. The cast also includes West Duchovny, Dina Shihabi and John Rothman.

Patrick Radden Keefe’s New Yorker article “The Family That Built an Empire of Pain” and Barry Meier’s book Pain Killer: An Empire of Deceit and the Origin of America’s Opioid Epidemic serve as source material for the series; both will consult on ...

HBO is reuniting with Emmy and Oscar winning filmmaker Alex Gibney for the two-part documentary The Crime of the Century, which will explore Big Pharma and government regulations over the reckless distribution and abuse of synthetic opiates. The Crime of the Century will debut on HBO and be available to stream on HBO Max in May.

The doc will explore the origins and fallout of the opioid epidemic which has resulted in half a million deaths from overdoses in this century alone.

With the help of whistleblowers, insiders, newly-leaked documents, exclusive interviews and access to behind-the-scenes investigations, and featuring expert input from medical professionals, journalists, former and current government agents, attorneys and pharmaceutical sales representatives, as well as sobering testimony from victims of opioid addiction, Gibney’s exposé will posit that drug companies are in fact largely responsible for manufacturing the very crisis they profit from, to the tune of...