True Lies (TV series) explained

Genre:Action
Creator:Matt Nix
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:1
Num Episodes:13
Runtime:43 minutes
Network:CBS

True Lies is an American action television series created by Matt Nix, based on the 1994 film of the same name by James Cameron, itself based on the 1991 French film La Totale! by Claude Zidi, Simon Michaël, and Didier Kaminka. It premiered on March 1, 2023 and ended on May 17, 2023 on CBS. In May 2023, the series was canceled after one season.

Premise

The series revolves around a suburban housewife who discovers her computer consultant husband is a skilled international spy, which leads them to saving the world and their marriage.

Cast

Main

Guest

Development

In September 2010, multiple websites reported that James Cameron, writer/director of the 1994 film, was developing and executive producing with Rae Sanchini, through Lightstorm Entertainment and 20th Television, a True Lies television series with Dark Angel producer René Echevarria serving as showrunner and producer.[1] [2] In 2017, Fox planned to do a pilot of the series, with Marc Guggenheim as screenwriter, McG as executive producer and possible director.[3] [4] In May 2019, McG announced on Collider Live that the television series would air on Disney+.[5] [6] [7]

On February 10, 2021, CBS announced a pilot order for the second attempt at a True Lies series adaptation, with Matt Nix writing the pilot and producing with Josh Levy via Flying Glass of Milk Productions. Mary Viola of Wonderland Sound and Vision executive produced, with Corey Marsh of Wonderland co-executive producing. McG was set to direct the pilot and executive produce via Wonderland.[8] In March 2021, CBS moved the pilot "off cycle" to give the series producers more time to film the pilot later in the year.[9]

By May 2022, the series was revived, with Anthony Hemingway replacing McG as the director of the pilot and subsequent episodes, before CBS picked up the series to air in the 2022–2023 broadcast season. Steve Howey and Ginger Gonzaga were cast in the lead roles, while Erica Hernandez, Omar Miller, Mike O'Gorman, Annabella Didion, and Lucas Jaye round out the supporting roles.[10]

By February 2023, Matthew Lillard, Keith David, Jackson Hurst, and Tom Connolly were confirmed to have guest roles, while Tom Arnold returned from the 1994 film.[11]

On May 8, 2023, CBS canceled the series after one season.[12]

Release

True Lies premiered on March 1, 2023 and ended on May 17, 2023 on CBS.[13] [14] It was previously set to premiere on February 23, 2023.[15] It aired in Canada on CTV the same day as its US release.[16] Overseas, True Lies was released on Disney+.[17] [7]

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 42% approval rating with an average rating of 4.3/10, based on 19 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Bland as gruel, True Lies might borrow the name of a cinematic blockbuster but retains none of the personality that would differentiate it from the crowded field of espionage romances."[18] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 49 out of 100 based on 14 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[19]

Tania Hussain of Collider gave the series a negative review, writing "CBS is no stranger to adapting previous material for success, but True Lies falls flat in carving out its own identity".[20] Tim Surette of TV Guide also gave a negative review, summarizing that "CBS's commitment to making True Lies such an easy-breezy, network-friendly series means that it will have to face some hard truths: The idea that we want everything adapted into a TV show is a lie."[21] Fred Topel of United Press International similarly gave a negative review, concluding that the series "skips over some of the best parts of the True Lies story. The creative decision to make Helen a spy right away deprives the viewer of the fun of Helen figuring it out and Harry desperately trying to cover up his missions."[22] Neal Justin of Star Tribune gave the series a lukewarm review, speculating that "those who crave their action without the blood will be tempted to give it a try. And they'll be back."[23]

Ratings

Notes and References

  1. James Cameron Adapting 'True Lies' For TV . 2010-09-13 . . 13 May 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20100914122619/https://www.deadline.com/2010/09/true-lies-series-in-the-works-with-james-cameron-producing/ . 14 September 2010 .
  2. Web site: 'True Lies' Movie Rebooted As TV Series By Fox With McG, Marc Guggenheim & James Cameron Producing. Nellie. Andreeva. 15 September 2017. Deadline Hollywood. 13 May 2022. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180319055032/https://deadline.com/2017/09/true-lies-reboot-movie-marc-guggenheim-mcg-james-cameron-fox-put-pilot-commitment-1202170748/. 19 March 2018.
  3. Web site: 'True Lies' TV Reboot From James Cameron Set at Fox . . 15 September 2017 . 13 May 2022 . 2020-09-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200926095139/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/true-lies-tv-reboot-james-cameron-set-at-fox-1039732 . live .
  4. Web site: 'True Lies' TV Series Coming to Disney+ from McG . 20 May 2019 . 13 May 2022 . 2020-08-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200806222201/https://www.slashfilm.com/true-lies-tv-series-disney/ . live .
  5. Web site: Game of Thrones is Over! Let's All Talk About It + McG in Studio - Collider Live #138 . . May 20, 2019 . 13 May 2022 . 2019-11-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191106133415/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TKUAKeYmZU&gl=US&hl=en . live .
  6. Web site: McG's 'True Lies' TV Show Is Heading to Disney+. Nellie. Andreeva. May 20, 2019. Collider. 13 May 2022. May 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190521001922/https://collider.com/true-lies-tv-show-disney-plus/. live.
  7. Web site: Watch True Lies | Full episodes | Disney+ .
  8. Web site: 'True Lies' Series Adaptation Gets CBS Pilot Order. Joe. Otterson. February 10, 2021. Variety. 13 May 2022. February 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210211040037/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/true-lies-series-adaptation-cbs-pilot-1234905581/. live.
  9. Web site: 'True Lies' Pilot Moves Off Cycle at CBS . . Elaine . Low . March 19, 2021 . 13 May 2022 . March 20, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210320005954/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/true-lies-pilot-off-cycle-cbs-1234935022/ . live .
  10. Web site: 'True Lies' Series Adaptation Ordered at CBS . . Joe . Otterson . 13 May 2022 . 13 May 2022.
  11. Web site: 'True Lies' Series Trailer Reveals a Familiar Face From the James Cameron Movie. Collider. Simbiat. Ayoola. February 2, 2023. February 21, 2023.
  12. Web site: Andreeva. Nellie. Petski. Denise. True Lies Canceled By CBS After One Season. Deadline Hollywood. May 8, 2023. May 8, 2023.
  13. Web site: New CBS Drama "True Lies" Will Now Premiere on Wednesday, March 1. The Futon Critic. December 8, 2022.
  14. Web site: "True Lies" on Paramount + . Sneak Peek . January 15, 2023 . January 15, 2023.
  15. Web site: White . Peter . True Lies & RuPaul's Lingo Land Premieres As CBS Unveils Midseason Schedule . . . November 14, 2022 . December 12, 2022.
  16. Web site: True Lies - CTV. www.ctv.ca. March 1, 2023.
  17. Web site: "True Lies" Coming Soon to Disney+ (Australia/New Zealand) .
  18. true_lies. True Lies. tv. 1. April 22, 2023. y.
  19. true-lies-2023. True Lies. tv. 1. April 9, 2023. y.
  20. Web site: 'True Lies' Review: Steve Howey and Ginger Gonzaga Series Doesn't Pack a Punch . Tania . Hussain . . February 23, 2023 . February 23, 2023.
  21. Web site: True Lies Review: CBS-ification of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Film Should Have Stayed Undercover . Tim . Surette . . February 23, 2023 . February 24, 2023.
  22. Web site: TV Review: 'True Lies' waters down original's edge . Fred . Topel . . February 23, 2023 . February 24, 2023.
  23. Web site: Review: 'True Lies' reboot owes more to Remington Steele than Arnold Schwarzenegger . Neal . Justin . . February 24, 2023 . February 24, 2023.

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