As Phoebe Waller-Bridge's creative collaborator on both Killing Eve and Fleabag, it was only a matter of time before Vicky Jones would be given the chance to be the creative head of her own series. Lo and behold, that moment has come in the form of Run, a new comedic thriller created by Jones and executive produced by Waller-Bridge, premiering on HBO this weekend. Shrouded in considerable mystery, the series follows two ex-lovers who impulsively decide to embark on a long-planned escape to disappear together.
Here's a quick look at who's who among the show’s main players, including the roles they’re playing in the series and where you may have seen them before:
Though Run represents her first major starring role, Merritt Wever is one of the most accomplished actresses working in TV today. Following her turn as Suzanne on Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Wever achieved breakout success with her performance as Zoey Barkow on Nurse Jackie, for which she won an Emmy. She won her second Emmy for her performance in Netflix’s western mini-series Godless, and received critical acclaim for her work in Netflix’s Unbelievable. She’s also had guest roles on New Girl and The Walking Dead. Her film work includes roles in Michael Clayton, Greenberg, Tiny Furniture, Welcome to Marwen, and Marriage Story. In Run, she’ll be playing Ruby Richardson, a woman who leaves her traditional suburban life to reunite with her college boyfriend.
Playing the role of Ruby's ex-boyfriend is Irish actor Domhnall Gleeson. Best known for his performances as General Hux in the most recent Star Wars films, Gleeson's other film work includes roles in Ex Machina, The Revenant, Brooklyn, American Made, Frank, Anna Karenina, Goodbye Christopher Robin, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Parts 1 & 2, and About Time. Gleeson has also had guest roles in Black Mirror, Catastrophe, Your Bad Self, and The Last Furlong. Run marks his first lead role in a TV series.
Ruby’s husband Laurence will be played by Rich Sommer. Best remembered as Harry Crane, the head of Sterling Cooper Advertising’s television department on Mad Men, Sommer has kept busy since that show's conclusion with recurring roles in Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later, Love, Elementary, and GLOW. He currently appears as Dean Riley on the CW crime drama, In the Dark.
Playing the role of police detective Babe Cloud is Canadian actress Tamara Podemski. A seasoned stage actor, she was a member of the original Canadian cast of Rent, and played a role in the show’s Broadway production. Her most notable screen credits include parts on the Canadian TV series Ready or Not, and in the 2007 film Four Sheets to the Wind. She currently stars as Alison Trent on the Canadian TV series, Coroner.
Archie Panjabi plays Billy’s former personal assistant Fiona. A TV veteran, Panjabi has had recurring roles in a number of high-profile shows over the years, most notably as Kalinda Sharma on CBS’ The Good Wife. She's also appeared in The Fall, Next of Kin, Blindspot, and Departure. Run is one of two HBO series that Panjabi has a role in this year, with the actress also set to star in the network’s upcoming Mark Ruffalo series I Know This Much is True.
Multi-hyphenate talent Phoebe Waller-Bridge broke out in 2016 with the release of the first season of her original series Fleabag, which she wrote, produced, and starred in. She received further acclaim and attention a few years later for her performance as L3-37 in Solo: A Star Wars Story as well as for her work on the first season of BBC America’s Killing Eve, which she created and executive produced. Coming off her recent, multiple Emmy and Golden Globe wins for the second season of Fleabag, Waller-Bridge not only serves as an executive producer on Run, but will also appear in the series as Laurel, a woman who Ruby and Billy cross paths with on their journey.
Run premieres on HBO Sunday, April 12th at 10:30 PM ET.
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Alex Welch has written about television and film for TV by the Numbers, IGN, The Berrics, Paste Magazine, Screen Rant and GeekNation. Follow him on Twitter @alexrwelch.
TOPICS: Run, HBO, Archie Panjabi, Domhnall Gleeson, Merritt Wever, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Rich Sommer, Tamara Podemski, Vicky Jones