Peacock’s Teacup Stars Tease Drama ‘Underneath the Surface’

So much for Peacock’s sci-fi horror series Teacup remains a secret because the mystery and twists are so intense from the start. When SYFY WIRE We made a scheduled visit to Atlanta, Georgia with other reporters, we spoke to lead actors Yvonne Strahovski, Scott Speedman and Chaske Spencer – and even they had a hard time avoiding spoilers. They didn’t want to ruin the surprises. But they still had a lot to say about what’s to come.

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Based on what we know so far about the series following its ten-episode premiere on Peacock, Teacup follows a disparate group of people in rural Georgia who must come together to survive in the face of a mysterious threat. One of these people is Maggie Chenoweth, a mother and veterinarian caught in the middle of a living nightmare, played by Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale, The predator).

“We’re moving really quickly here. We shoot fast and hard,” Strahovski said. “[The emotion at the center is] What really makes this show, considering it’s a genre piece – it’s the opportunity for the audience to engage with the characters. It’s a family. There are a few families on this farm and the families have their own problems and my character Maggie in particular has them [Scott] Speedman’s character…”

They have problems, to say the least.

More than just a science fiction crime novel

Scott Speedman (Underworld, Grey’s Anatomy) plays Maggie’s husband James Chenoweth, a teacher whom Speedman described as “a good man, a good father” to his two children, whom we meet by chance in the middle of a crisis. “In fact, we’re meeting him at probably the worst point in his life,” Speedman said.

Their interpersonal issues, Strahovski teased, “already form a… very, very tense backdrop to what’s to come as we go through each episode and find out that there’s something else going on… that they’re trying to get to,” the reason , because it is a mystery to them.

“And I think that will be part of the appeal for viewers,” she continued. “It’s one of those exciting, sometimes slow-burn exciting, but sometimes fast-paced, exciting journeys that we’re going to take.” [all] the episodes.

This burning begins right at the beginning of Episode 1, when a family secret comes to light.

“We’re presenting Episode 1, which is a challenge… that the patriarch is unlikeable,” Speedman said of his character. “We’re setting up this unwinnable fight and that made me say, ‘Okay!’ To know [showrunner] Ian [McCulloch]this has to be a story of redemption. Hopefully things have to come full circle here. And yes, that remained true.

However, it is not just the Chenoweth family that is affected by this mystery. Their neighbors, the Shanleys, also become involved in the drama. Chase Spencer (The Twilight Saga, echo) plays Ruben Shanley and teased not only the drama within the family units, but between families as well.

“Ruben just knows James and Maggie [by way of] the community, but he doesn’t really do it know her “I know her,” he said. “And I think this is where we get to know each other real quickly, due to the circumstances we find ourselves in.

Spencer’s character is described as “stoic,” but the actor did everything he could to get into the character’s headspace. This included creating a custom playlist with songs by The Kentucky Headhunters, Wailin’ Jennys and, he joked, Bryan Adams. “[He’s] “I’m a secret Bryan Adams fan,” he said with a laugh.

“We don’t want the audience to know what he’s thinking, and that’s a big challenge for me because…I’m a pretty bubbly guy by nature, but this character keeps everything to himself,” Spencer said. “So I always have to check with Ian and the directors if I’m giving too much or too little or – sometimes in these scenes I feel like I’m not doing anything and the camera is picking it up.”

“I never underestimate the audience,” Spencer added. “The audience is very smart. And they’ll see it and feel it and stuff.”

But there’s still action to come…

However, as viewers can see from the trailer, there is plenty of action, violence and horror. What begins as a cozy family farmhouse soon becomes a place of unknown terror. This is the kind of story that needs a hero. Are any of these characters up to the task?

As the only medical professional on the property, Maggie is used to keeping a cool head.

“She’s trained to be in control,” Strahovski said.

Ruben’s stoicism seems like a given for someone willing to ascend, but is that the case…?

As for James: “[He’s heroic] “In his own way,” Speedman said of his character. “He would never do the stereotypical heroism. It’s subtle, but that’s also my taste – it’s the most noticeable.”

He further explained that his character, like everyone else, changes to suit the moment of this mystery. And with this change we could have a hero or two.

“If you Do “If you pick up the gun, theoretically it has a greater impact,” he said.

The first two episodes of Teacup premiered on Peacock on Thursday, October 10th. Two new episodes will be released every Thursday until Halloween.