The filmmaker behind La La Land and Whiplash is tapping into the world of jazz once more. Damien Chazelle’s The Eddy, a Netflix drama set in a modern-day Paris jazz club, premieres May 8, and the first trailer is here. It introduces us to Elliot (André Holland), a jazz musician who is trying to run a club in a major city while juggling a relationship with his performer girlfriend (Joanna Kulig) and the sudden arrival of his daughter (Amandla Stenberg).
Below, everything you need to know about the starry show.
What is The Eddy about?
The eight-episode series “takes place in the vibrant multicultural neighborhoods of modern-day Paris.” Although The Eddy is set in the music world, show writer and executive producer Jack Thorne told The Hollywood Reporter, “It’s not actually a musical. It’s a TV show about musicians, but nobody ever breaks out into song.”
An official synopsis of the not-musical music series, per Netflix, reads:
Once a celebrated jazz pianist in New York, Elliot Udo is now the co-owner of struggling club The Eddy, where he manages the house band fronted by lead singer and on-again-off-again girlfriend Maja. As Elliot learns that his business partner Farid may be involved in some questionable practices at the club, secrets begin to come to light that have also been concealed from Farid’s wife Amira, and when Elliot’s troubled teenage daughter Julie suddenly arrives in Paris to live with him, his personal and professional worlds quickly start to unravel as he confronts his past, fighting to save the club and protect those closest to him.
Who’s involved?
Lou FaulonNetflix
Chazelle, who won Best Director in 2017 for La La Land, will direct episodes of the series along with Alan Poul (The Newsroom), Houda Benyamina (Divines), and Laïla Marrakchi (Le Bureau des Légendes).
Poul, Chazelle, and Thorne (His Dark Materials) will executive produce the project with six-time Grammy-winning musician Glen Ballard. Real-life musicians will comprise The Eddy’s band, including Randy Kerber, Ludovic Louis, Lada Obradovic, Jowee Omicil, and Damian Nueva Cortes.
Lou FaulonNetflix
Alongside Holland, Kulig, and Stenberg, cast members include Tahar Rahim (A Prophet) as business partner Farid, Leïla Bekhti (Aprophet) as Farid’s wife Amira, and rapper Sopico, in his onscreen debut. Melissa George, Adil Dehbi, Benjamin Biolay, and Tchéky Karyo round out the ensemble.
Lou FaulonNetflix
What about the music?
The original soundtrack for The Eddy will also be released on May 8.