Netflix has debuted chilling first-look photos at Ryan Murphy’s upcoming series Ratched, starring Sarah Paulson as the iconic Cuckoo’s Nest character in her origin story, as well as announcing a September 18 premiere date! The images can be viewed in the gallery below!
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The series is a prequel to 1975’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, with Paulson playing a younger version of the villainous Nurse Ratched. The series will start in 1947, and chronicle her rise from lowly nurse to one of the most loathsome screen villains of all time.
The series was created by recent film school graduate Evan Romansky, who wrote the script on spec. It was reportedly given to Murphy’s agent, who spent a year acquiring the rights and getting Douglas and the Saul Zaentz estate to jump on board. It reportedly spawned a bidding war between Netflix, Hulu and Apple before Netflix ended up securing the rights.
Executive producing alongside Murphy and Douglas are Aleen Keshishian, Margaret Riley and Jacob Epstein from Lighthouse Management & Media and Romansky who will co-executive produce. Paulson will produce with Paul Zaentz from the Saul Zaentz Company. Fox 21 will be the studio for the show.
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The 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest won the Oscar for Best Picture and was based on Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel of the same name. Nurse Ratched was played in the movie by Louise Fletcher, who won an Oscar for Best Actress. The film also won awards for Best Director (Milos Forman), Best Actor (Jack Nicholson) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman).
Ratched is set to premiere on Netflix on September 18.
Ratched
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RATCHED (L to R) LIZ FEMI as LEONA and CHARLIE CARVER as HUCK FINNIGAN in episode 101 of RATCHED Cr. SAEED ADYANI/NETFLIX © 2020
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RATCHED (L to R) JUDY DAVIS as NURSE BETSY BUCKET in episode 101 of RATCHED Cr. SAEED ADYANI/NETFLIX © 2020
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RATCHED (L to R) SARAH PAULSON as MILDRED RATCHED in episode 101 of RATCHED Cr. SAEED ADYANI/NETFLIX © 2020
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RATCHED (L to R) FINN WITTROCK as EDMUND TOLLESON in episode 102 of RATCHED Cr. SAEED ADYANI/NETFLIX © 2020
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RATCHED (L to R) SHARON STONE as LENORE OSGOOD and FINN WITTROCK as EDMUND TOLLESON in episode 103 of RATCHED Cr. SAEED ADYANI/NETFLIX © 2020
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RATCHED (L to R) SOPHIE OKONEDO as CHARLOTTE WELLS and JON JON BRIONES as DR. RICHARD HANOVER in episode 105 of RATCHED Cr. SAEED ADYANI/NETFLIX © 2020
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RATCHED (L to R) SARAH PAULSON as MILDRED RATCHED and CYNTHIA NIXON as GWENDOLYN BRIGGS in episode 106 of RATCHED Cr. SAEED ADYANI/NETFLIX © 2020
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RATCHED (L to R) SARAH PAULSON as MILDRED RATCHED in episode 108 of RATCHED Cr. SAEED ADYANI/NETFLIX © 2020
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RATCHED (L to R) CYNTHIA NIXON as GWENDOLYN BRIGGS in episode 102 of RATCHED Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2020
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RATCHED (L to R) SARAH PAULSON as MILDRED RATCHED in episode 103 of RATCHED Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2020
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RATCHED (L to R) SHARON STONE as LENORE OSGOOD in episode 105 of RATCHED Cr. COURTESY OF NETFLIX © 2020