AMC Networks Casts Psychological Thriller, Renews Harry Wild

During its TCA Press Tour presentation, AMC Networks revealed it has cast Tatiana Maslany in the psychological thriller Invitation to a Bonfire and renewed the hit Acorn TV show Harry Wild.

Maslany (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Orphan Black) will executive produce Invitation to a Bonfire in addition to starring. The series and the Adrienne Celt novel it is based on are inspired by Vladimir and Vera Nabokov’s co-dependent marriage.

Maslany joins the previously announced cast members Freya Mavor (Skins), Pilou Asbæk (Borgen, Game of Thrones) and Ngozi Anyanwu (The Deuce). The series comes from creator, showrunner and executive producer Rachel Caris Love (Physical). It centers on Zoya, a young Russian immigrant and groundskeeper, who is drawn into a lethal love triangle with her school’s newest faculty member and his bewitching wife.

“Tatiana is a singular talent who we’ve wanted to bring back to the AMC Networks family since her iconic and career-defining performance in Orphan Black,” said Dan McDermott, AMC Networks’ president of entertainment and AMC Studios. “We’re thrilled to have her join Invitation to a Bonfire’s talented cast and watch her bring to life the wild flame that is Vera Orlov, both on-screen and behind-the-scenes as an executive producer.”

AMC Networks also revealed it has ordered a second season of Harry Wild, starring and executive produced by Jane Seymour (The Kominsky Method, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, B Positive). The show had the most successful series launch on Acorn TV and had the most-watched season of any series in 2022. The new season will debut in 2023.

Harry Wild is produced by Dynamic Television and, in addition to Seymour, stars Kevin Ryan (Guilt, Copper), Rohan Nedd (Whitstable Pearl), Stuart Graham (The Fall, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and Amy Huberman (Finding Joy, Striking Out). It centers on a retiring university literature professor who begins interfering with some of her police detective son’s cases.

“I’m so thankful to the Acorn TV audience, the press and my incredible fans for making season one of Harry Wild such a success,” Seymour said. “I was thrilled when I heard how well the show performed. I absolutely love playing Harry. I can’t wait to get back into production and bring everyone eight more Harry and Fergus-filled episodes!”

“We knew this series was special from the beginning and could not be more thrilled by the response of Acorn TV viewers to this first season of Harry Wild and to see the remarkable Jane Seymour leading and producing a thrilling murder mystery on our platform,” said Matt Graham, general manager of Acorn TV. “This series had the most successful premiere week in our history and is already our most-watched single season for 2022, just three months after it arrived. We could not be more excited by the prospect of a second season from Jane and this talented creative team.”