Dead Ringers

Rachael Weisz stars in and executive produces a modern adaptation of David Cronenberg's 1988 twisted drama-thriller

Dead Ringers is an American psychological drama-thriller miniseries produced by Annapurna Television and Morgan Creek Entertainment for Amazon Studios. The miniseries is based on the 1988 film of the same title by legendary horror director David Cronenberg. Cronenberg, who co-wrote the film with Norman Snider, based the script on the book Twins by Bari Wood and Jack Geasland. The book itself is based on the true story of identical twin brothers Stewart and Cyril Marcus, who practiced gynaecology together and died mysteriously at 45. The 2023 series is adapted and executive produced by the lead writer of Normal People, Alice Birch, and gives a nuanced take on the story, including switching the gender of the leading twins to female, and highlighting issues in women’s healthcare alongside the storyline. 

While the 1988 film stars Jeremy Irons as the twins, the 2023 miniseries sees Elliot and Beverly Mantle played by Academy Award-winner Rachel Weisz. Michael Chernus plays Tom, a scientist working alongside the Mantle Twins. Poppy Liu plays Greta, the twins’ house manager with a secret agenda. Britne Oldford plays Genevieve, an actor in the middle of a breakdown who arrives at the practice. Jeremy Shamos plays Joseph, a ruthless fundraiser working with the twins. Jennifer Ehle and Emily Meade play Rebecca and Susan, a married couple helping to fund the twins’ ethically dubious research.