Duster (TV series)
Duster | |
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Genre | Crime thriller |
Created by | |
Showrunner | LaToya Morgan[1] |
Starring |
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Music by | Laura Karpman |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 4 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producers |
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Cinematography | Carmen Cabana |
Running time | 52 minutes |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network | Max |
Release | May 15, 2025 present | –
Duster is an American crime thriller series created by J. J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan and starring Josh Holloway, Rachel Hilson, and Keith David. The show is set in 1972; Hilson portrays the FBI's first black woman agent and Holloway plays a getaway driver. Duster premiered on Max on May 15, 2025.
Premise
[edit]In the Southwest in 1972, the FBI's first Black woman agent (Rachel Hilson) works to stop a crime syndicate boss (Keith David) with the assistance of a talented getaway driver (Josh Holloway).[2]
Cast
[edit]Main
[edit]- Josh Holloway as Jim Ellis[2]
- Rachel Hilson as Nina Hayes[2]
- Keith David as Ezra Saxton[2]
- Sydney Elisabeth as Genesis Saxton[3]
- Greg Grunberg as Nathan Abbott
- Camille Guaty as Izzy Reyna[4]
- Asivak Koostachin as Awan Bitsui
- Adriana Aluna Martinez as Luna Reyna
- Benjamin Charles Watson as Royce Saxton
Recurring
[edit]- Corbin Bernsen as Wade Ellis[4]
- Gail O'Grady as Charlotte Dean-Ellis
- Donal Logue as Sergeant Groomes[4]
- Kevin Chamberlin as Bob Temple
- Sofia Vassilieva as Jessica-Lorraine Sims
- Dan Tracy as Agent Chad Grant
- Evan Jones as Billy Mahoney
- Rob Tode as Anesthesiologist
- Mikandrew as Angelo
Guest
[edit]- Patrick Warburton as Sunglasses
- Peter Murnik as Charlie
- Adrienne Barbeau as Evelyn Breen
- Brian Reddy as Colonel Tom Parker
- Mikaela Hoover as Adrienne Barbeau
- Rigo Sanchez as Enrique the Blade
Episodes
[edit]No. [5] | Title | Directed by | Written by [5] | Original release date [1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Baltimore Changes Everything" | Steph Green | J. J. Abrams & LaToya Morgan | May 15, 2025 |
2 | "Suspicious Minds" | Steph Green | LaToya Morgan & J. J. Abrams | May 22, 2025 |
3 | "You're No Good" | Darren Grant | J. J. Abrams & LaToya Morgan | May 29, 2025 |
4 | "Criminalus Velocitus Super-Sonicus" | Darren Grant | Sue Chung | June 5, 2025 |
5 | TBA | TBA | Lucas Brown Eyes | June 12, 2025 |
6 | TBA | TBA | Matt Lambert | June 19, 2025 |
7 | TBA | TBA | Michael Horowitz | June 26, 2025 |
8 | TBA | TBA | LaToya Morgan | July 3, 2025 |
Production
[edit]The series was given a straight to series green-light at HBO Max in April 2020, as part of J. J. Abrams' overall deal at WarnerMedia. The series was co-created and co-written by Abrams and LaToya Morgan.[6] The first season has eight episodes, the first three written by the creators.[7] Steph Green is also an executive producer, and she directed the first two episodes.[2]
In March 2021, Josh Holloway was cast to star in the pilot,[8] with filming beginning in October 2021 in Tucson.[9][10] In February 2023, the series was officially given a series order, with Rachel Hilson announced as a co-lead.[11] Corbin Bernsen was announced in a recurring role the following month.[12]
Production for the full series began in April 2023 in Albuquerque, New Mexico and the surrounding areas.[13][14][10] In May, it was suspended due to the 2023 WGA strike.[15] Before the strike, the pilot was shot in downtown Tucson, Arizona, and parts of Pima County from September through mid-November 2021.[16]
Cars
[edit]Ted Moser served as the picture car coordinator for Duster and procured over 250 vehicles for the show.[10] Four separate cars were sourced for the titular Plymouth Duster driven by Holloway's character Jim — one "hero car" for filming only, detailed enough for close-ups, and three other stunt cars modified for camera equipment and retrofitted with automatic transmissions.[10] Holloway took a stunt driving class in preparation for the role and filmed many of his own driving scenes; stunt driver Corey Eubanks performed the rest. Hilson's character Nina drives a Plymouth Belvedere. One scene featuring several BMWs was originally written with Audis in mind.[10]
Release
[edit]A teaser trailer was released on March 19, 2025.[2] The official trailer was released on April 30, 2025. [17] Duster premiered on Max on May 15, 2025, with successive episodes released weekly thereafter.[2]
Reception
[edit]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 92% based on reviews from 35 critics. The website's critical consensus reads, "Making great use of Josh Holloway's rugged charm and a retro aesthetic that recalls 1970s television, Duster slaps a fresh coat of paint on a vintage vehicle."[18] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave it a score of 72 out of 100, based on reviews from 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[19]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Max Original Drama Series DUSTER, From Emmy-Award Winner J.J. Abrams And Showrunner LaToya Morgan, Debuts May 15" (Press release). March 19, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Petski, Denise (March 19, 2025). "'Duster': J.J. Abrams & LaToya Morgan's Drama Series Gets Max Premiere Date & First-Look Teaser". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ Bell, Amanda (March 19, 2025). "'Duster': J.J. Abrams' New HBO Series, Explained". TV Insider. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c Hodges, Jake (May 2, 2023). "'Duster' Cast, Crew, Release Window, and Everything We Know So Far About J.J. Abrams' Crime Series". Collider. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ a b "Duster". Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 16, 2020). "HBO Max Orders 'The Shining' Offshoot 'Overlook', J.J. Abrams' 'Duster' & Justice League Dark Series From Bad Robot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- ^ Mathai, Jeremy (March 19, 2025). "The Duster Trailer Finally Returns JJ Abrams To TV – And Reunites Him With A Lost Star". SlashFilm. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (March 9, 2021). "Josh Holloway to Star in HBO Max Series 'Duster' From LaToya Morgan, J.J. Abrams". Variety. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
- ^ Parris, Pat (October 6, 2021). "HBO Max Series Duster could bring $65 million economic boost to Tucson". KGUN-TV. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Soloski, Alexis (May 13, 2025). "In 'Duster,' the Cars Are in the Driver's Seat". The New York Times. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
- ^ White, Peter (February 16, 2023). "Rachel Hilson To Star In J.J. Abrams & LaToya Morgan's Duster As HBO Max Hands Out Official Series Order". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ Petski, Denise (March 30, 2023). "Corbin Bernsen Set To Recur In J.J. Abrams' HBO Max Series Duster". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ^ "The New Mexico Film Office Announces Max/Warner Bros. Television Series Duster is Currently in Production in New Mexico" (PDF). Film New Mexico. April 28, 2023.
- ^ Rajput, Priyanca (May 4, 2023). "JJ Abrams' crime thriller series Duster filming in New Mexico for HBO Max". KFTV.com.
- ^ White, Peter (May 22, 2023). "Max's 'Duster', From J.J. Abrams & LaToya Morgan, Suspends Production In New Mexico". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ Savic, Bryan. "Why was HBO Max's 'Duster' pilot shot in Tucson?". The Daily Wildcat. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Duster: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ "Duster: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
External links
[edit]- 2025 American television series debuts
- American crime television series
- American thriller television series
- American English-language television shows
- Max (streaming service) original programming
- Television series about the Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Television series by Bad Robot Productions
- Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios
- Television series created by J. J. Abrams
- Television series set in 1972
- Television shows filmed in Arizona
- Television shows filmed in New Mexico
- Television shows affected by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike