Origin (TV series)
A stranded crew discovers an imposter among them.
Origin is an American science fiction drama series created by Mika Watkins that premiered on November 14, 2018, on YouTube Premium. The series follows a group of strangers stranded on a spacecraft bound for a distant planet, who must work together for survival while realizing one of them is not who they claim to be. It was cancelled after one season on March 25, 2019.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Science fiction / Drama
- Creator
- Mika Watkins
- Starring
- Natalia Tena / Tom Felton / Sen Mitsuji / Nora Arnezeder / Fraser James / Philipp Christopher / Madalyn Horcher / Siobhán Cullen
- Composer
- Edmund Butt
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Num Seasons
- 1
- Num Episodes
- 10
- Executive Producer
- Andy Harries / Suzanne Mackie / Mika Watkins / Paul W. S. Anderson / Josh Appelbaum / André Nemec / Jeff Pinkner / Scott Rosenberg / Rob Bullock
- Producer
- John Phillips / Alice Pearse
- Cinematography
- David Higgs / Birgit Bebe Dierken / Guilio Biccari / Martin Fuhrer
- Camera
- Single-camera
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Origin was created by Mika Watkins, who also served as a writer and executive producer alongside Andy Harries, Rob Bullock, Suzanne Mackie, Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, and Scott Rosenberg. Production companies included Midnight Radio, Left Bank Pictures, CiTVC, and Sony Pictures Television. Paul W. S. Anderson directed the first two episodes. Principal photography took place in South Africa in 2018. The series was ordered for ten episodes and premiered on YouTube Premium on November 14, 2018, after a teaser trailer on July 19, 2018, and a full-length trailer on October 4, 2018. YouTube cancelled the series on March 25, 2019, after one season.
Reader's Guide
Origin is notable as a YouTube Premium original series that attempted to blend science fiction with mystery and survival drama. Its premise—strangers stranded on a spacecraft with one imposter—drew comparisons to genre classics, as noted by the Rotten Tomatoes critical consensus, which described it as an 'overstuffed space drama' that mimics many genre classics but is buoyed by a 'stellar cast' and 'withholding premise.' The series featured a cast including Natalia Tena, Tom Felton, and Sen Mitsuji. Despite its cancellation after one season, the series achieved a 69% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating mixed to positive reception. Its legacy lies in being part of YouTube's early push into original scripted content, though it did not secure a second season.
Did You Know?
- Principal photography for the series took place in South Africa in 2018.
- The series was cancelled by YouTube on March 25, 2019, after one season.
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