MIPCOM 2019 Scripted Hot Pick: The Terror: Infamy

True Blood’s Alexander Woo and Max Borenstein, who has been behind Kong: Skull Island and Godzilla, co-created this “haunting and suspenseful” drama that combines supernatural twists with a story about the internment of Japanese Americans and the aftermath of Hiroshima.

Woo is attached as showrunner and exec producer, alongside Borenstein, on the anthology series, which follows the first instalment of The Terror, which provided a fictionalised account of Captain Sir John Franklin’s lost expedition to the Arctic in 1845–1848.

The action this time takes place during World War II and centers on a series of bizarre deaths that haunt a Japanese American community. The plot moves on to follow a young man’s journey to understand and combat the malevolent entity responsible, chronicling the life of Chester Nakayama, along with his friends and family, as they face persecution from the American government while they battle the evil spirit that threatens their future.

Like the first season, elements of the show have been inspired by true events, in this case telling the story of Japanese American internment more than 70 years ago. From 1942 to 1945, more than 145,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese Canadians were forced from their homes and into internment camps by their respective governments, because of where they or their ancestors were born.

“Their story is one of perseverance in the face of injustice,” AMC says, adding that the series is “asking what it truly means to be an American”.

Derek Mio takes the lead role of Chester Nakayama, while Kiki Sukezane (Lost in Space) Cristina Rodlo (Miss Bala) and Shingo Usami (Unbroken) also star. Producer, author and activist George Takei (Star Trek) also features and serves as a consultant on the series, which has an executive producer roster that includes Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker, Alexandra Milchan, Guymon Casady and Jordan Sheehan.

The Terror: Infamy
Distributor: AMC Studios
Producers: Scott Free, Emaj Productions, Entertainment 360
Broadcaster: AMC (US)
Logline: A series of bizarre deaths haunt a Japanese American community, as a young man tries to combat the malevolent entity responsible