Think along the lines of Planet of the Apes, but with all the animals waging war on humans – that’s what you get with the new thriller, Zoo, writes Debashine Thangevelo
VIEWERS enjoy a decent thriller. And when said TV series is adapted from the novel of award-winning author James Patterson, you know it’s going to live up to expectations. More so, as he is a co-executive producer on the project – so you are assured there aren’t too many creative liberties taken with the story.
Zoo looks at violent animal attacks on humans all over the world. And Jackson Oz (James Wolk), an American zoologist, and his Kenyan friend, Abraham Kenyatta (Nonso Anozie), who is a safari guide, try to trace the origins of the mysterious pandemic. They are helped by a Los Angeles reporter, a quirky veterinary pathologist and a French intelligence agent.
Wolk, who has been leaving footprints in TV with shows like Shameless, Happy Endings, Political Animals, Mad Men and The Crazy Ones (the comedy with Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar), was attracted to the character and the story.
He says: “I thought it was fascinating and different from so much on television right now. The character was dark and exciting. And, luckily, the creators and writers liked me enough to give me a shot at it.”
As much as he is the main protagonist, who is saluted for his heroism in the series, Jackson hauls around personal baggage, too.
The 30-year-old actor reveals: “There is a lot of darkness that he has. But he is also a hero in a way because he is trying to solve this apocalyptic problem. So it’s fun. It’s a great past, a great backstory and a great adventure.”
When viewers first encounter Jackson, he is lying in a hammock, nursing a serious hangover.
Wolk adds: “It says a lot about where he is at, at that point of his life. He is kind of escaping his (chequered) past. His father was a famous scientist who had this theory that animals were eventually going to turn on humans. He was shunned by the Harvard community he worked for and ended up committing suicide. So Jackson and his mum leave the US when he’s about 13. He tries to forget about the past and opens a safari camp. Then, everything that his father predicted comes true and he is thrown into the mix of trying to figure out what’s happening.”
The first episode opens in Botswana, where Jackson rescues Chloe Tousignant from a lion attack. Although she appears to be a tourist, she is there at the behest of the French Defence Department.
Meanwhile, back in Los Angeles, a lion keeper is attacked. And similar incidents start erupting with more frequency.
Shedding light on the TV series adaptation, Patterson says: “When you are doing a 13-hour series, you want change. So we have added characters and scenes that weren’t in the book. I have a simple request when a project of mine is turned into a TV series or movie – when I watch it, I must be proud to be associated with it.
“This is not a show where you are going to see somebody getting attacked by animals every couple of minutes. It just builds suspense… and then something happens.”
To ensure the series isn’t weighed down by the drama, there is a palatable dose of humour added to the script.
Commenting on whether this is meant to be seen as a cautionary tale, he responds: “It’s a scary fable in the way that 1984 was scary. And Animal Farm was scary. And this one is about human beings doing a lot of questionable things around the world.”
While the overarching story focuses on Jackson and those close to him working tirelessly to get to the bottom of the aggressive behaviour of the animal kingdom, there is also a sense of closure for him as he puts many of his demons, especially where his father is concerned, to rest.
And the personal inner conflicts and hidden agendas certainly up the ante with the disturbing turn of events.
Zoo airs on M-Net (DStv channel 101) on Tuesday, December 22 at 8.30pm.