‘Fantasmas’ Trailer: Julio Torres Is on a Surreal Odyssey to Find a Lost Pearl Earring
Julio Torres is stepping into a very literal and gender-swapped “Girl With a Pearl Earring” rendition for HBO.
The “Los Espookys” creator is back at the network with new surreal series “Fantasmas,” which he created, directed, and stars in. The series debuted at the ATX TV Festival earlier this year.
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Torres plays a fictionalized version of himself as he tries to uncover a lost gold oyster earring. In his search to find the precious object, Torres’ character Julio reflects on the offbeat folks he encounters in introspective, eerie, and comedic vignettes set in a dreamy, alternate version of New York City. The surreal series is billed as a “fantastical six-part tale” that is a “kaleidoscope of color” to “weave together stories of people looking for meaning, purpose, and connection in an increasingly isolating world.”
In addition to Torres, the cast includes Martine Gutierrez, Tomas Matos, and Joe Rumrill as the voice of Bibo. Nearly two dozen guest stars will make special appearances throughout the series’ six episodes, including Steve Buscemi, Paul Dano, Julia Fox, Alexa Demie, Aidy Bryant, Bowen Yang, Kim Petras, Ziwe, and Emma Stone, who also executive produces through her Fruit Tree banner.
Torres executive produces alongside Stone and Dave McCary, plus Alex Bach and Daniel Powell for Irony Point and Olivia Gerke for 3 Arts. Ali Herting is a co-executive producer.
Stone and Torres’ collaborations began at “SNL” where Torres penned some of Stone’s favorite sketches, including a scrapped bit titled “The Silver Woman.”
“Julio and I talked about this Silver Woman, and he’s like, ‘She’s… having like this, slow motion mental breakdown. You know, it’s like Nicole Kidman in ‘Birth,’” Stone said during “The A24 Podcast” alongside Torres. “And it was a very dramatic performance, as it is in most of your work, like Tilda [Swinton] in ‘Problemista,’ or like in ‘The Actress,’ which is another one that we did for ‘SNL.’ None of this is taken lightly. Like, your approach to comedy is like, while it might be absurdist …you have to believe it with your whole heart, and it has to be life or death.”
Stone shared that she is still hoping the shelved sketch makes it to air at some point.
“It was so genius, and I really, I just did not Kidman enough. I really didn’t,” Stone said of the rehearsed bit. “And I want another chance. I want another crack at ‘Silver Woman.'”
Well, now Stone is helping Torres find his not silver but gold earring for the new series.
“Fantasmas” premieres June 7 at 11 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. Check out the trailer below.
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