The Following looks poised to be FOX’s most intriguing new show of the 2012-2013 season… so intriguing that they’re going to make us wait until midseason for it to premiere.
The show comes from Vampire Diaries executive producer Kevin Williamson, who also penned the Scream movies, and they’ve lured a big name — Kevin Bacon — to headline the series.
Here’s how they describe it:
THE FBI estimates there are currently over 300 active serial killers in the United States. What would happen if these killers had a way of communicating and connecting with each other? What if they were able to work together and form alliances across the country? What if one brilliant psychotic serial killer was able to bring them all together and activate a following? Welcome to THE FOLLOWING, the terrifying new thriller from creator/executive producer Kevin Williamson (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Dawson’s Creek,” the “Scream” franchise). When notorious serial killer JOE CARROLL (James Purefoy, “Rome”) escapes from death row and embarks on a new killing spree, the FBI calls former agent RYAN HARDY (Emmy-nominated actor Kevin Bacon, “X-Men: First Class”) to consult on the case. Having since withdrawn from the public eye, Hardy was responsible for Carroll’s capture nine years ago, after Carroll murdered 14 female students on the Virginia college campus where he taught literature. Hardy is a walking textbook of all-things Carroll. He knows him better than anyone; he is perhaps Carroll’s only psychological and intellectual match. But the Ryan Hardy who broke the Carroll case years ago isn’t the same man today. Wounded both physically and mentally by his previous pursuit of this serial killer, it’s been a long time since Hardy has been in the field. This investigation is his redemption, his call to action. In contrast to nine years ago, Hardy isn’t calling the shots on this case. He works closely with an FBI team, which includes all-business and tough-as-nails JENNIFER MASON (Jeananne Goossen, “The Vow,” ALCATRAZ) and young, razor-sharp MIKE WESTON (Shawn Ashmore, “X-Men”). The team considers Hardy to be more of a liability than an asset. But Hardy proves his worth when he uncovers that Carroll was covertly communicating with a network of killers in the outside world. It quickly becomes obvious that he has more planned than just a prison escape, and there’s no telling how many additional killers are out there. The FBI’s investigation leads Hardy to CLAIRE MATTHEWS (Natalie Zea, “Justified”), Carroll’s ex-wife and mother of the criminal’s 10-year-old son, JOEY (newcomer Kyle Catlett). Close during Hardy’s initial investigation, Hardy turns to Claire for insight into Carroll’s next move. The tension rises when Carroll’s accomplices kidnap his intended last victim from nine years ago. Hardy becomes ever more determined to end Carroll’s game when he realizes that this psychopath intends to finish what he started. The thriller will follow Hardy and the FBI as they are challenged with the ever-growing web of murder around them, masterminded by the devious Carroll, who dreams of writing a novel with Hardy as his protagonist. The reinvigorated Hardy will get a second chance to capture Carroll, as he’s faced with not one but a cult of serial killers.
CAST: Kevin Bacon as Ryan Hardy, James Purefoy as Joe Carroll, Jeananne Goossen as Agent Jennifer Mason, Natalie Zea as Claire Matthews, Kyle Catlett as Joey Matthews, Shawn Ashmore as Agent Weston, Valorie Curry as Denise, Adan Canto as Billy Thomas, Nico Tortorella as Will Wilson
This morning, FOX has released a handful of images from the project, spotlighting the very good looking cast. Here are those images:
THE FOLLOWING: A fast-paced psychological thriller that follows former FBI agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon, seventh from L), who is called out of retirement to track down Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) in the new drama THE FOLLOWING premiering Monday, Jan. 21 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Pictured L-R: Nico Tortorella, Valorie Curry, Adan Canto, Natalie Zea, Kyle Catlett, Shawn Ashmore and Annie Parisse. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Michael Lavine/FOX
THE FOLLOWING: A fast-paced psychological thriller that follows former FBI agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon, seventh from L), who is called out of retirement to track down Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) in the new drama THE FOLLOWING premiering Monday, Jan. 21 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Pictured L-R: Nico Tortorella, Valorie Curry, Adan Canto, Natalie Zea, Kyle Catlett, Shawn Ashmore and Annie Parisse. ©2012 Fox Broadcasting Co. CR: Michael Lavine/FOX
