The slate of programming available on the new streaming service HBO Max continues to expand in unexpected ways, though this recent announcement might be their most peculiar yet. According to Variety, the young streaming service has commissioned a 10-episode run of a new series titled “A World of Calm” which promises to combine “mesmeric imagery with narration by A-list stars” with figures Mahershala Ali, Nicole Kidman and Keanu Reeves already signed on to the new health and wellness show.
READ MORE: ‘Son Of A Bitch’: Kelly Oxford To Write & Direct New Comedy Feature For HBO Max
The star-studded lineup of narrators for the series also includes Idris Elba, Oscar Isaac, Zoë Kravitz, Lucy Liu, and Cillian Murphy. It might be the highest-profile piece of relaxation and meditation media since Jeff Bridges released an ambient album, the large ensemble of stars speaking to the continuing proliferation of sleep assistance apps and similar niches like ASMR, especially during the stress of lockdown. That said, it remains to be seen if Neo and the future voice of Blade voicing a prestige television version of a self-help tape is more soothing than it is simply strange.
READ MORE: ‘An American Pickle’ Trailer: Seth Rogen & Seth Rogen Star In This HBO Max Comedy
The show was borne from a collaboration between HBO Max, the highly popular sleep app Calm, and Nutopia, the team behind Nat Geo’s “One Strange Rock” series. Described as “visual valium” by Michael Acton Smith, Calm co-founder and co-CEO, “A World of Calm” is designed to either be viewed or listened to, each half-hour episode centered around a tale narrated by one of the many famous actors on board, in order to “transport the viewer into tranquility through scientifically-engineered narratives, enchanting music, and astounding footage, to naturally calm your body and soothe the mind.”
Root, Nutopia CEO and founder said the series was “entirely created during quarantine… We hope this series of serene stories will bring a sense of much needed calm to audiences. These experiences […] will help people relax and unwind during these stressful times.”
A release date has not yet been announced, but as a show designed to help alleviate the stress of quarantine, one can expect to hear more soon.
Update: The first trailer is here:
