Trailer: Lena Waithe’s Prime Video Anthology Series “THEM” Explores Terror In America 

From breakout creator Little Marvin and executive producer Lena Waithe, Them is a limited anthology series that explores terror in America. The 1950s-set first season centers on a Black family who moves from North Carolina to an all-white Los Angeles neighborhood during the period known as The Great Migration. The family’s idyllic home becomes ground zero where malevolent forces, next-door and otherworldly, threaten to taunt, ravage and destroy them. The new terror anthology series, Them, will premiere Friday, April 9th exclusively on Prime Video. (Scroll down to watch the trailer)

Them stars Deborah Ayorinde, Ashley Thomas, Alison Pill, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Melody Hurd, and Ryan Kwanten.

Livia ‘Lucky’ Emory (Played by Deborah Ayorinde)

…is a Mother. Wife. Teacher. Still grappling with the psychological aftermath of a devastating tragedy, Lucky begins to suspect something malevolent threatens her family in their new home at Palmer Drive. Upcoming, Ayorinde will appear in Sony’s Fatherhood opposite Kevin Hart. Paul Weitz directs the film, which is based on a true story. Hart stars as a father who is forced to raise a child on his own and finds himself wholly unprepared for the challenge. The cast also includes Alfre Woodard, Lil Rel Howery, Anthony Carrigan, Melody Hurd, Paul Reiser, and DeWanda Wise.

Ayorinde played opposite Cynthia Erivo in the critically acclaimed feature film Harriet and guest-starred in the acclaimed Netflix series Luke Cage. She played Mahershala Ali’s daughter in the latest installment of True Detective for HBO and starred in the massively successful Universal feature Girls Trip. As a student at Howard University, she won the coveted Paul Robeson Best Actress award for her performance in a short film that she wrote and directed. Ayorinde splits her time between Los Angeles and London, where she was born.

Gracie Jean Emory (Played by Melody Hurd)

…is a 6-year-old firecracker who begins to suspect her new home isn’t what it appears. Melody Hurd, who is 9, starred in the Jurassic Park short, Battle at Big Rock, directed by Colin Trevorrow.  The Maryland native will soon be seen in the Sony Pictures feature film, Fatherhood, alongside Kevin Hart and directed by Paul Weitz, which is slated for theatrical release in 2021. Hurd had a supporting role in Patrick Lussier’s Trick with Omar Epps. When Melody is not acting, she enjoys spending time with her sisters, Lyric and Rhythm, and roller skating.  

Ruby Lee Emory (Played by Shahadi Wright Joseph)

…is a studious 14-year old whose desire to fit in will lead her to question all she holds dear. At just fifteen years old, award-winning actor Shahadi Wright Joseph has quickly become known in the entertainment industry for the diverse and dynamic characters she has brought to life on the stage and screen. In film, Shahadi was most recently seen starring in Universal Pictures’ critically acclaimed, horror/thriller film Us, opposite Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke. Us was nominated for a handful of prestigious awards, with Shahadi landing her first NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture.

Shahadi is also well known for her role as Young Nala in Walt Disney Pictures’ The Lion King, a CGI re-imagining of the 1994 Disney classic directed by Jon Favreau. The film marked Shahadi’s second time appearing as Nala– at just nine years old, she made history as the youngest actress to play the character in Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway.

Betty Wendell (Played by Alison Pill)

…is the ringleader of the neighborhood wives, Betty discovers untapped potential when the Emory family moves in across the street. Alison Pill has segued effortlessly between the stage and big and small screens over an impressive career. She most recently starred in Star Trek: Picard for CBS All Access and FX’s DEVS from Alex Garland. Pill’s film credits include Miss Sloane, Hail Caesar!, Snowpiercer, Goon, Scott Pilgrim, Milk, Dan in Real Life, Dear Wendy, and Pieces of April.  Her television work includes Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story: Cult the ABC’s drama The Family, the acclaimed Aaron Sorkin HBO series The Newsroom, the HBO drama In Treatment, The Book of Daniel, and Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows.

On stage, Pill starred opposite Ben Stiller in House of Blue Leaves and Edie Falco in This Wide Night and with Abigail Breslin in Broadway’s revival of The Miracle Worker. She was nominated for a Tony Award for her Broadway debut in The Lieutenant of Inishmore and for a Lucille Lortel Award for On the Mountain.  She won The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble in the U.S. premiere of The Distance from Here.

Henry Emory (Played by Ashley Thomas)

…is a Father. Husband. Engineer. Haunted by recent tragic events, Henry buries his guilt and grief in the pride of a beautiful new home and career. But as the tensions rise outside his home, a darkness has gripped him from within. Ashley can most recently be seen in the Netflix series Top Boy and CBS’ Salvation. Previously, he played a role in the CBS hit drama The Good Fight. Ashley was also one of the lead roles in the Fox Television series 24: Legacy. His credits include Black Mirror and the critically acclaimed HBO miniseries The Night Of. He starred in the Academy Award-winning short film Skin and was named one of Screen International’s Stars of Tomorrow.

The series is created and executive produced by Little Marvin along with executive producers Lena Waithe, Miri Yoon, and Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment, David Matthews, and Don Kurt. Them is a co-production from Sony Pictures Television and Amazon Studios.

Watch the trailer for “THEM”:

Shahadi Wright Joseph (Photo Credit: Geoff Levy)

Alison Pill (Photo Credit: Catie Laffoon)