{"id":55566,"date":"2021-08-30T09:04:31","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T09:04:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amplify.nabshow.com\/?post_type=articles&#038;p=55566"},"modified":"2026-03-05T04:38:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T04:38:50","slug":"how-nine-perfect-strangers-became-a-perfect-pandemic-production","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/articles\/how-nine-perfect-strangers-became-a-perfect-pandemic-production\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cNine Perfect Strangers:\u201d Director Jonathan Levine Goes Deep"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns article-content is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_102_vv-1527rt-LR-1200x630-1.jpg?ssl=1\" alt=\"Nicole Kidman as Masha and Patten as Zoe in Episode 2 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-image-55546\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Nicole Kidman as Masha and Patten as Zoe in Episode 2 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Director Jonathan Levine took the helm of all eight episodes of Hulu\u2019s new limited series, <em>Nine Perfect Strangers<\/em>, created by David E. Kelley and John Henry Butterworth and based on the book by Liane Moriarty (the author of HBO\u2019s <em>Big Little Lies<\/em>, which Kelley also adapted for the screen).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The stacked ensemble cast, which includes Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy, Luke Evans, Melvin Gregg, Samara Weaving, Michael Shannon, Asher Keddie, Grace Van Patten, Manny Jacinto, Tiffany Boone, Regina Hall and Bobby Cannavale, might distract viewers from the fact that the entire series takes place in a single locale, the plush wellness resort Tranquillum House, but, sadly, the realities of film and television production in a COVID-19 world means that we might have to get used to more single-location productions such as <em>Nine Perfect Strangers<\/em> and HBO\u2019s recent hit, <em>The White Lotus<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"You&#039;re Already Suffering | Nine Perfect Strangers Clip | Hulu\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/G76uwlGAQps?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tranquillum House is overseen by the resort\u2019s director, an enigmatic woman named Masha (Kidman) one character describes as an \u201camazing, mystical Eastern Bloc unicorn.\u201d Aided by her loyal assistants, Yao (Jacinto) and Delilah (Boone), Masha is on a mission to reinvigorate the tired minds and bodies of those she selects to participate in her exclusive \u2014 and expensive \u2014 10-day wellness retreats. But her methods are controversial, to say the least, and these \u201cnine perfect strangers\u201d have no idea what is about to hit them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ostensibly set in Northern California, Tranquillum House is actually a retreat and spa called Soma situated near Ewingsdale, a small town located in the Northern Rivers Region of New South Wales. The Australia-set shoot was arduous, Levine told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backstage.com\/magazine\/article\/jonathan-levine-hulu-nine-perfect-strangers-director-73843\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Casey Mink<\/a> at <em>Backstage<\/em>, explaining that while he had directed films like <em><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/S5jiaHvx-kY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Long Shot<\/a><\/em>, <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/3VwN-KCpM6w\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>The Wackness<\/em><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/dAykqVD5n0U\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>50\/50<\/em><\/a>, he had never been responsible for an entire series before. The director said he had to turn off what he called \u201cthe critical mind\u201d in order to take more creative risks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBy Day 40, you\u2019re not shooting a scene the way you\u2019re shooting a scene on Day 1, and you\u2019re especially not by Day 90. By Day 90, I was trying to come up with new ways to tell the story that interest me and excite me. That was really rewarding and incredible. But, the stamina it requires is crazy \u2014 not just physical stamina, but mental stamina.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Everybody Has A Story | Nine Perfect Strangers | Hulu\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xi5LWBl4HXk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.backstage.com\/magazine\/article\/jonathan-levine-hulu-nine-perfect-strangers-director-73843\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u2018Nine Perfect Strangers\u2019 Director on the Series\u2019 Big Lessons\u2014and Big Personalities (Backstage)<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe resort itself is such a big character,\u201d Levine said to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/danafeldman\/2021\/08\/12\/see-how-far-nine-perfect-strangers-will-go-to-fix-themselves-in-new-hulu-series\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dana Feldman<\/a> at <em>Forbes<\/em>. \u201cIt was perfect with its amazing woods, jungles and beaches and captured the feeling we were looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Much like <em>The White Lotus<\/em>, the characters in <em>Nine Perfect Strangers<\/em> arrive at Tranquillum House with a good deal of baggage, but the stakes are much higher in the Hulu thriller than HBO\u2019s comedic drama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThese people come to this place to get better but as the story unfolds they realize it won\u2019t be easy,\u201d said Levine. \u201cIt\u2019s hard for them to be in the present and live in the moment. At the same time they\u2019re struggling with the past and feeling angst about the future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/danafeldman\/2021\/08\/12\/see-how-far-nine-perfect-strangers-will-go-to-fix-themselves-in-new-hulu-series\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">See How Far \u2018Nine Perfect Strangers\u2019 Will Go To Fix Themselves In New Hulu Series (Forbes)<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLevine\u2019s greatest success is in making this cast work together so cohesively,\u201d senior TV editor <a href=\"https:\/\/collider.com\/nine-perfect-strangers-review-hulu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Liz Shannon Miller<\/a> writes in her review for <em>Collider<\/em>, \u201ceven if the fluctuations of the tone occasionally get distracting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Nine Perfect Strangers<\/em> \u201crepresents a unique entry in the ongoing trend of limited series, so focused on its characters and their journeys that the smallest personal breakthrough feels like an onscreen explosion,\u201d Miller notes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe whole concept of looking outside of yourself for answers is for some people a daunting one. Internal monsters are a lot scarier than external ones \u2014 and they\u2019re harder to kill. <em>Nine Perfect Strangers<\/em> captures that dynamic in such an engaging way that while the remaining episodes could change everything, right now it\u2019s one of the most intriguing shows of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"On the set of Episode 1 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55562\" data-id=\"55562\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_101_vv-0159bts_rt-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">On the set of Episode 1 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Nicole Kidman as Masha in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55550\" data-id=\"55550\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_103_vv_0025rt-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Nicole Kidman as Masha in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Michael Shannon as Napoleon, Grace Van Patten as Zoe, Asher Keddie as Heather, Melissa McCarthy as Frances, Bobby Cannavale as Tony, Manny Jacinto as Yao, Nicole Kidman as Masha, and Melvin Gregg as Ben in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55556\" data-id=\"55556\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_103_vv_1240rt-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Michael Shannon as Napoleon, Grace Van Patten as Zoe, Asher Keddie as Heather, Melissa McCarthy as Frances, Bobby Cannavale as Tony, Manny Jacinto as Yao, Nicole Kidman as Masha, and Melvin Gregg as Ben in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Melvin Gregg as Ben in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55559\" data-id=\"55559\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_103_vv_3620rt-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Melvin Gregg as Ben in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Manny Jacinto as Yao in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55558\" data-id=\"55558\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_103_vv_1604rt-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Manny Jacinto as Yao in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/collider.com\/nine-perfect-strangers-review-hulu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u2018Nine Perfect Strangers\u2019 Review: The Hulu Limited Series Blends Comedy, Drama, and Horror for One Intriguing TV Smoothie (Collider)<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a one-on-one interview with <a href=\"https:\/\/collider.com\/nine-perfect-strangers-jonathan-levine-interview-hulu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Miller<\/a>, Levine explained how he approached making the series, including the films he looked to for inspiration when it came to navigating its very tricky tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-color has-css-opacity has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background is-style-default\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\" id=\"navigating-the-metaverse\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amplify.nabshow.com\/?s=metaverse&amp;v=content\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amplify.nabshow.com\/?s=Motion%20Picture%20\/%20Film%20and%20Documentary&amp;v=content\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amplify.nabshow.com\/?s=Television%20Programming&amp;v=content\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NOW STREAMING \u2014 BEHIND THE SCENES OF FAN-FAVORITE SERIES:<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size\" id=\"the-metaverse-may-be-a-wild-frontier-but-here-at-nab-amplify-we-ve-got-you-covered-hand-selected-from-our-archives-here-are-some-of-the-essential-insights-you-ll-need-to-expand-your-knowledge-base-and-confidently-explore-the-new-horizons-ahead\"><em><em><em>As the streaming wars rage on, consumers continue to be the clear winners with an abundance of series ripe for binging. See how your favorite episodics and limited series were brought to the screen with these hand-picked articles plucked from the <\/em><\/em><\/em>NAB Amplify<em><em><em> archives:<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-medium-font-size\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amplify.nabshow.com\/articles\/create-severance-about-that-work-life-balance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cSeverance:\u201d Now, About Solving the Work\/Life Balance\u2026<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amplify.nabshow.com\/articles\/create-entering-the-gilded-age\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Entering \u201cThe Gilded Age\u201d<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amplify.nabshow.com\/articles\/create-class-is-not-in-session-the-wonderful-horror-of-all-of-us-are-dead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Class Is Definitely Not In Session: The Horror Delights of \u201cAll of Us Are Dead\u201d<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amplify.nabshow.com\/articles\/create-the-dropout-is-a-slo-motion-car-crash-and-we-cant-look-away\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u201cThe Dropout\u201d Is a Slow-Motion Car Crash (and We Can\u2019t Look Away)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amplify.nabshow.com\/articles\/the-terrible-universal-appeal-of-squid-game-is-by-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The (Unavoidable) Universal Appeal of \u201cSquid Game\u201d Is By Design<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-color has-css-opacity has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color has-background\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Levine loved the \u201cincredible mashup of different tones\u201d in <em>Nine Perfect Strangers<\/em>, he told Miller. \u201cI would call references from different tonal columns&#8230;I would rip off like 10 different things, and then it would become this whole unique thing, because at your core is these amazing characters and this beautiful story,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere was no specific comparison for overarching tone. I looked at a lot of \u201870s art thrillers, like <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/UWqCHKtKPKI\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Picnic at Hanging Rock<\/em><\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/xXP8OaJGxrM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Don\u2019t Look Now<\/em><\/a>, and stuff like that. I watched <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/1Vnghdsjmd0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Midsommar<\/em><\/a> a lot. I liked kind of thinking about Polanski stuff too, which is sort of funny and absurdist, but also creepy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tiffany Boone as Delilah, Manny Jacinto as Yao, and Nicole Kidman as Masha in Episode 2 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55549\" data-id=\"55549\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_102_vv-3541rt-1-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Tiffany Boone as Delilah, Manny Jacinto as Yao, and Nicole Kidman as Masha in Episode 2 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Bobby Cannavale as Tony in Episode 2 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55565\" data-id=\"55565\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_102_vv-0325rt-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Bobby Cannavale as Tony in Episode 2 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Grace Van Patten as Zoe in Episode 1 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55563\" data-id=\"55563\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_101_vv-0418rt-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Grace Van Patten as Zoe in Episode 1 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Luke Evans as Lars in Episode 1 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55561\" data-id=\"55561\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_101_vv-0077rt-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Luke Evans as Lars in Episode 1 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Michael Shannon as Napoleon and Grace Van Patten as Zoe in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55557\" data-id=\"55557\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_103_vv_1302rt-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Michael Shannon as Napoleon and Grace Van Patten as Zoe in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bong Joon-ho\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/isOGD_7hNIY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Parasite<\/em><\/a> was another visual reference, along with Lars von Trier\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/JCUdy1nUqrg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Melancholia<\/em><\/a>, Robert Altman\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/u9vEnPtWuF4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>3 Women<\/em><\/a>, Jordan Peele\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/sRfnevzM9kQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Get Out<\/em><\/a>, and Yorgos Lanthimos\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/LTNZmOJxuAc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>The Lobster<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cKnowing that even if just like four percent of those things get into the material, it still kind of informs and elevates things in an interesting way for me,\u201d said Levine. \u201cMore than anything though, I would just kind of use the characters and the script as the tonal guidelines, but these things kind of subconsciously get into what you\u2019re doing and improve them, I think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/collider.com\/nine-perfect-strangers-jonathan-levine-interview-hulu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u2018Nine Perfect Strangers\u2019 Director Jonathan Levine Reveals What Films Inspired the Hulu Drama, and His Season 2 Pitch (Collider)<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Melissa McCarthy on the set of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55548\" data-id=\"55548\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_102_vv-2835_bts_rt2-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Melissa McCarthy on the set of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Nicole Kidman as Masha in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55552\" data-id=\"55552\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_103_vv_0464rt-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Nicole Kidman as Masha in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Melissa McCarthy as Frances in Episode 2 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55547\" data-id=\"55547\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_102_vv-2771rt-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Melissa McCarthy as Frances in Episode 2 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Nicole Kidman as Masha in Episode 2 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55545\" data-id=\"55545\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_102_vv-1466rt-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Nicole Kidman as Masha in Episode 2 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Nicole Kidman as Masha in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55551\" data-id=\"55551\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_103_vv_0407rt-1-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Nicole Kidman as Masha in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Levine had previously directed pilot episodes for TV series <em>Rush<\/em>, which he created, and <em>I\u2019m Dying Up Here<\/em>, but Nine Perfect Strangers represented a new type of challenge, he told <a href=\"https:\/\/thespool.net\/interviews\/jonathan-levine-nine-perfect-strangers-interview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Reyzando Nawara<\/a> at <em>The Spool<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOh man, honestly, I really didn\u2019t wanna direct all the episodes,\u201d he recounted:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAt the very beginning, I was like, \u2018Okay, I\u2019ll just do half or five episodes,\u2019 but then as I read more of the scripts, and as I started to imagine how fun it would be and how this project would push me as a director, I just couldn\u2019t imagine anyone else doing it. It was just so exciting to me. And that was it, I just had to do all of them. I had no choice. To be completely honest, it was a very hard thing to do, and you had to be a little bit crazy to wanna do it. But I guess I\u2019m a little bit crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Taking charge of all the eight episodes of <em>Nine Perfect Strangers<\/em> allowed Levine to \u201cmap out a progression a little bit more. If I was just directing a pilot, I would probably try to condense or distill the style into one hour,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut knowing where the story was going and ending definitely helped me outline a visual and narrative progression. By the time you\u2019re so deep into the story and the process of directing them, you really start to achieve some kind of transcendence that you\u2019re just really doing them based on your instinct. It\u2019s challenging, of course, but it\u2019s also a really fun way to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/thespool.net\/interviews\/jonathan-levine-nine-perfect-strangers-interview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jonathan Levine on \u201cNine Perfect Strangers\u201d and our desperation for wellness (The Spool)<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Nicole Kidman as Masha in Episode 4 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55560\" data-id=\"55560\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9PS_104_VV_0154RT-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Nicole Kidman as Masha in Episode 4 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Melissa McCarthy as Frances in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55555\" data-id=\"55555\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_103_vv_0918rt-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Melissa McCarthy as Frances in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Michael Shannon as Napoleon and Grace Van Patten as Zoe in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55557\" data-id=\"55557\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_103_vv_1302rt-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Michael Shannon as Napoleon and Grace Van Patten as Zoe in Episode 3 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Bobby Cannavale as Tony in Episode 1 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55564\" data-id=\"55564\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_101_vv-0647rt-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Bobby Cannavale as Tony in Episode 1 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" height=\"720\" width=\"1080\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Luke Evans as Lars in Episode 1 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-55561\" data-id=\"55561\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/jwolfepr.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/9ps_101_vv-0077rt-LR.jpg?resize=1080%2C720&#038;ssl=1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Luke Evans as Lars in Episode 1 of \u201cNine Perfect Strangers.\u201d Cr: Vince Valitutti\/Hulu<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want more? In the audio player below, listen to <em>Nine Perfect Strangers<\/em> director Jonathan Levine discuss the making of the series in an interview with WNYC Radio:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" height=\"130\" width=\"100%\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wnyc.org\/widgets\/ondemand_player\/wnyc\/#file=\/audio\/json\/1126702\/&amp;share=1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Director Jonathan Levine takes the helm of Hulu\u2019s hit limited thriller series shot in Australia during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":55584,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_breakdance_hide_in_design_set":false,"_breakdance_tags":""},"categories":[248],"class_list":["post-55566","articles","type-articles","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-amplify"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - 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