Alfonso Cuarón’s ‘Disclaimer’ First Look: Cate Blanchett Is Caught Up in a Controversy for ‘TáR’ Meets ‘Notes on a Scandal’ Series

Samantha Bergeson
·2 min read

Alfonso Cuarón is back on TV with Cate Blanchett making her leading series debut.

Five-time Academy Award winner Cuarón writes, directs, and executive produces upcoming Apple TV+ limited series “Disclaimer,” based on Renée Knight’s bestselling novel. The star-studded cast also includes Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen, Lesley Manville, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Louis Partridge, Leila George, and Hoyeon.

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Blanchett channels her “Notes on a Scandal” and “TáR” counterparts for the psychological thriller that centers on acclaimed journalist Catherine Ravenscroft (Blanchett) who built her reputation revealing the misdeeds and transgressions of others. Yet when she receives a novel from an unknown author, Catherine is horrified to realize she is now the main character in a story that exposes her darkest secrets.

Per the official synopsis, as Catherine races to uncover the writer’s true identity, she is forced to confront her past before it destroys both her own life and her relationships with her husband Robert (Cohen) and their son Nicholas (Smit-McPhee).

“Disclaimer” is Cuarón’s first TV series since the 2014’s “Believe,” which aired only 12 episodes on NBC before being canceled. The series is produced by Esperanto Filmoj and Anonymous Content. The series will make its global debut on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes on Friday, October 11, followed by new episodes every Friday through November 15. Cuarón has a deal with Apple that was first announced in 2019.

Cuarón serves as executive producer alongside Esperanto Filmoj’s Gabriela Rodriguez and Anonymous Content’s David Levine, and Steve Golin. Author Knight serves as co-executive producer.

Cuarón’s collaborator Emmanuel Lubezki (“Gravity,” “Birdman,” “The Revenant”) and Bruno Delbonnel (“The Tragedy of Macbeth,” “Inside Llewyn Davis,” “Darkest Hour”) serve as directors of photography and executive produce. Donald Sabourin and Carlos Morales also executive produce.

The score is composed by multiple Academy and Grammy Award winner Finneas O’Connell (“Barbie,” “No Time to Die”).

“Disclaimer” star Blanchett recently led Cannes political satire feature “Rumours,” and will next appear in Eli Roth’s video game adaptation “Borderlands.” The multi-talented actress/producer will also reunite with Jim Jarmusch for “Father Mother Sister Brother” alongside Adam Driver, Vicky Krieps, Tom Waits, and Charlotte Rampling. The feature is described as an anthology film following three separate stories centered on strained relationships between adult children and their parents. Each of the trio of plotlines take place in different countries: “Father” is set in the Northeast U.S., “Mother” takes place in Dublin, Ireland, and “Sister Brother” is based in Paris, France.

“Disclaimer” premieres October 11 on Apple TV+. Check out the first look above.

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