The Man Who Fell to Earth (TV series)

The Man Who Fell to Earth

Company type	Limited series
Industry	Television
Founded	April 24, 2022 (2022-04-24)
Founder	Jenny Lumet, Alex Kurtzman
Headquarters	London , United States / United Kingdom
Products	Television series

The Man Who Fell to Earth is a limited American science fiction drama series developed by Jenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman, adapted from the 1963 novel authored by Walter Tevis. Functioning as a continuation of the 1976 film featuring David Bowie, the show stars Chiwetel Ejiofor portraying an extraterrestrial visitor to Earth, while Bill Nighy returns to the character originally embodied by Bowie. The series debuted on Showtime on April 24, 2022, following a preview screening at SXSW in March 2022. Despite its distinguished cast and production team, the show was discontinued after its initial season.

Premise

The survival of the planet hinges on an alien who arrives during a pivotal moment in history.

Main

• Chiwetel Ejiofor as Faraday
• Naomie Harris as Justin Falls
• Annelle Olaleye as Molly Falls
• Clarke Peters as Josiah Falls
• Bill Nighy as Thomas Jerome Newton
• Jimmi Simpson as Spencer Clay
• Kate Mulgrew as Drew Finch
• Sonya Cassidy as Edie Flood
• Joana Ribeiro as Lisa Dominguez
• Rob Delaney as Hatch Flood

Recurring

• Tanya Moodie as Portia
• Juliet Stevenson as Sister Mary Lou Prescott
• Art Malik as Henning Khan
• Josh Herdman as Terry Mannch
• Laurie Kynaston as Clive Flood

Guest

• Martha Plimpton as Officer K. Faraday
• Zoë Wanamaker as Watt
• Victoria Smurfit as Penny Morgan

Episodes

All episode titles are derived from songs by David Bowie.

Production

The adaptation of Walter Tevis's novel The Man Who Fell to Earth for television shifted platforms from Hulu to CBS All Access in August 2019. This change occurred following the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney and unresolved issues related to co-production agreements. The series was created by Jenny Lumet and Alex Kurtzman.

In February 2021, casting announcements revealed that Chiwetel Ejiofor would play the alien character Faraday. By March, the production moved to Showtime, adding cast members including Naomie Harris, Jimmi Simpson, and Clarke Peters. April saw further additions with actors such as Rob Delaney, Sonya Cassidy, Joana Ribeiro, and Annelle Olaleye joining the ensemble. Later, in August, Kate Mulgrew was confirmed for a recurring role. In January 2022, it was disclosed that Bill Nighy would portray Thomas Jerome Newton, reprising the role made famous by David Bowie. Nevertheless, Showtime announced in October 2022 that the series would not continue beyond its first season.

Principal photography commenced on May 3, 2021, in London, with extensive filming taking place at the University of Hertfordshire.

Release

Originally planned for a 2021 debut on Paramount+, the series premiered internationally on Showtime and Paramount+ on April 24, 2022.

Critical response

According to reviews compiled by Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 86%, with an average score of 6.7 out of 10 based on 29 critical assessments. Critics acknowledged that while The Man Who Fell to Earth may not be exceptional overall, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s performance stands out compellingly. On Metacritic, it received a score of 68 out of 100 from 16 critics, reflecting "generally favorable reviews."

Honors and Recognitions

Award	Ceremony Date	Category	Nominee(s)	Outcome	Source
Saturn Awards	October 25, 2022	Best Network or Cable Science Fiction Television Series	The Man Who Fell to Earth	Template:Nom
		Best Actor in a Network or Cable Television Series	Chiwetel Ejiofor	Template:Nom