Based on the international best-selling novel by Caleb Carr, The Alienist is a psychological thriller set in the Gilded Age of New York City in 1896, a city of vast wealth, extreme poverty and technological innovation. When a series of haunting, gruesome murders of boy prostitutes grips the city, newly appointed police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt calls upon criminal psychologist (aka alienist) Dr. Laszlo Kreizler and newspaper reporter John Moore to conduct the investigation in secret.
The Alienist opens when a series of haunting, gruesome murders of boy prostitutes grips New York City. Newly appointed police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (Geraghty) calls upon criminal psychologist (aka alienist) Dr. Laszlo Kreizler (Brühl) and newspaper illustrator John Moore (Evans) to conduct the investigation in secret. They are joined by Sara Howard (Fanning), a headstrong secretary determined to become the city’s first female police detective. Using the emerging disciplines of psychology and early forensic investigation techniques, this band of social outsiders set out to find and apprehend one of New York City’s first serial killers.
The Alienist also stars Douglas Smith (Miss Sloane) and Matthew Shear (Mistress America) as Marcus and Lucius Isaacson, twin brothers who help unravel the disturbing mystery; Matt Lintz (Pixels) as Stevie, a tough, young boy employed by Dr. Kreizler as a driver and errand boy; Robert Ray Wisdom (The Wire) as Cyrus, Kreizler’s valet, a man with a dark past who has been reformed by Kreizler; and Q’orianka Kilcher (The New World) as Mary, Kreizler’s mute maid with whom he shares a special unspoken connection.
production details
USA / TNT – Anonymous Content – Paramount Television – Studio T / 10×50 minutes / 2018
cast
Luke Evans as John Moore
Dakota Fanning as Sara Howard
Daniel Brühl as Dr. Laszlo Kreizler
Martin McCreadie as Sergeant Doyle
Douglas Smith as Marcus Isaacson
David Wilmot as Captain Connor
Matthew Lintz as Stevie Taggert
Sara Vickers as Jane Gooding
key behind the scenes crew
Caleb Carr as Original author/CONS
Cary Fukunaga as Executive Producer
Eric Roth as Executive Producer
Hossein Amini as Creator/Executive Producer
Jakob Verbruggen as Director of pilot
Rosalie Swedlin as Executive Producer
Steve Golin as Executive Producer
show type
period crime drama
