Images via Swarm/Sony Music //
Back in 2016, a Donald Glover-created show by the name of Atlanta arrived, carving out a surrealistic depiction of the city’s hip-hop scene to much acclaim.
Now, a sister show is on its way, in the form of a new series called Swarm, which turns its lens towards the darker side of stardom, once again created by Glover (aka Childish Gambino).
Inspired by super fandom, stan culture and the internet, the story follows a young woman, Dre – played by Dominique Fishback – who is obsessed with a pop star (based on Beyoncé). Now, a first look at the series has been released in the form of four tantalising stills.
“We just thought it’d be fun to make a post-truth Piano Teacher mixed with The King of Comedy,” Glover said, referencing the 2001 and 1982 films by Michael Haneke and Martin Scorsese.
Speaking on Swarm, co-creator (and Atlanta writer and producer) Janine Nabers described their desire to create an anti-hero similar to the likes of Don Draper or Tony Soprano, “through the lens of a Black, modern-day woman.”
The series also stars Chloe Bailey and Damson Idris, with none other than Malia Obama (President Obama’s daughter) in the writer’s room, alongside Glover and Nabers.
Swarm is due out on March 10 via Amazon Prime.