Netflix’s The Extraction spin off series casts a Game of Thrones alumni

The hard-charging Extraction universe of Netflix is adding new members to its team, and now it has one face that fantasy fans would recognize. Game of Thrones alum Natalie Dormer has signed a deal to be a part of the streaming giant's upcoming Extraction spin-off series, where she will be joined by the renowned French actor Omar Sy and Narcos’ Steve, Boyd Holbrook, in a globetrotting action thriller that seeks to expand the Extraction franchise beyond the one-man mayhem of Tyler Rake.

Netflix has officially confirmed that the show is indeed an eight-episode series, with Glen Mazzara serving as showrunner, guided by AGBO (the Russo brothers' studio) as their own in-house production company. So, yes, there are big, muscular set pieces, and a pulpy, propulsive story engine.

Natalie Dormer joins the Extraction series

Dormer’s casting is headline-worthy because she is the type of actor who can have a sweet smile on her face as she quietly outwits a room full of murderers. Having shipped out of fan-favorite roles as Margaery Tyrell in Game of Thrones and stints in The Hunger Games, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, and Inside No. 9, she also boasts Netflix credentials with The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance; thus, a transition into a premium streamer action series seems like a natural progression.

Neither Netflix nor trading reports are divulging the character details yet; the production is tight-lipped, and that is intentional. Some coverage has also speculated names on the call sheet, but nothing has been set in the public record.

Dormer will, however, portray the character of Clayton Wisper, the head of a private military contractor. What is apparent is the tone: an earth-bound, character-driven action series in which decisions are scarred. That is a sweet spot for Dormer, who plays strategists with an emotional agenda very well. She will star alongside the French actor, Omar Sy, the lead character in the series, and Narcos' Steve, Boyd Holbrook, who was recruited a little earlier than Dormer. Collectively, these three will bring a cool blend of magnetism, menace, and volatility to the show. As in Extraction, the films were about raw survival; this chapter is likely to introduce other operatives capable of winning a gun battle and a mental match.

What is the Extraction series about

Plot-wise, the upcoming Extraction series takes viewers to Libya, where a hostage-rescue operation opens up a shootout between warring factions and brutal assassins, leaving a mercenary in the middle of the fray. This arrangement enables the show to transcend boundaries, attract powerful regional interests, and place characters in no-win scenarios, as the viewers of Extraction would anticipate.

Unlike the movies, we can expect more ensemble dynamics, with operatives, handlers, and local fixers working under pressure to accomplish their mission. There is not yet any official crossover with the character Tyler Rake in the movie, but the Russos, Hargrave, and AGBO are attached. So, the series will fit in comfortably in the same universe.

The team behind Netflix's upcoming Extraction spin-off

This new series is beyond a side story, as it is a massive and full-scale expansion of the Extraction universe. The show, running eight episodes, is a Netflix project with Glen Mazzara as the showrunner and writer, who was also the executive producer of The Walking Dead. AGBO is producing the show with Angela Russo-Otstot, Scott Nemes, and Chris Castaldi, with Anthony and Joe Russo and Sam Hargrave (who directed the movies) joining as executive producers. Their collective contribution must ensure the same wrenching, tough-as-nails action that people admired in the movies. The creative team includes Jessica Granger as one of the writers, and the episodes will be directed by Louise Hooper (The Witcher, The Sandman), both of whom can give the story a cinematic feel and something of a thriller energy to it.

Internally, the project is running under the title: Mercenary. It is an entirely global production, retaining the characteristics of the Extraction films. The casting is not completed yet. However, Netflix has already promoted its main trio, including Omar Sy, Boyd Holbrook, and Natalie Dormer. Further actors are due to be cast over the course of time, and it might even have some surprise connections to the initial movies.

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