Disclaimer - What We Know So Far

Apple TV+ has slowly but surely become one of the most exciting streaming services on the market. With series like "Ted Lasso," "The Morning Show," and "See" all available to stream, there's no shortage of unique content available. Now, it looks like the Apple TV+ content library is about to get even more interesting, as one of the most technically gifted filmmakers in the business is set to create new content for the streamer.

Specifically, a report from Deadline has confirmed that Oscar-winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón has landed his upcoming series "Disclaimer" at Apple TV+. This comes after the filmmaker signed onto a first-look deal with Apple in 2019. Cuaron is best known for his work on films such as "Children of Men," "Gravity" and "Roma," and has developed a reputation for beautiful storytelling paired with technical mastery. "Disclaimer" will likely continue that trend, as Cuaron is writing, directing, and executive producing the show, and he has assembled some great talent — including double Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett — to help him bring the series to life. With that in mind, now we will dive into all of the key things we currently know about "Disclaimer."

At this time, "Disclaimer" does not currently have a set premiere date for its launch at Apple TV+. As the project has only just been announced, it is reasonable to assume that there is a fair amount of work that still needs to be done before the cameras start rolling. Alfonso Cuarón has historically allowed some lengthy gaps between directing stints throughout his career, which means "Disclaimer" could still be a long way off if pre-production takes quite a while.

Then there is a matter of the cast's availability to work on the upcoming series. Specifically, Cate Blanchett has another big-name project on her plate at the moment, the Todd Field directed "TÁR," which is set to premiere in October 2022 (via Deadline). With that in mind, it seems reasonable to assume that audiences will not see "Disclaimer" until 2023, at the earliest. Moreover, if there is a long production and post-production process, a 2024 release is not entirely off of the table either.

Though the entire cast of "Disclaimer" is not yet known, its initial announcements should get audiences excited for what else is to come. The series has cast Cate Blanchett as a celebrated journalist named Catherine Ravenscroft and Kevin Kline as a writer whose work turns Ravenscroft's world upside down. Blanchett is perhaps best known for her roles in films like "Carol," "Thor: Ragnarok," and "Blue Jasmine," while Kline is well known for his performances in films such as "Dave" and "A Fish Called Wanda." No other major casting announcements or characters have been announced at this time.

The casting of Kevin Kline in "Disclaimer" marks a major shift for the Oscar-winner, who has primarily worked as a film and stage actor up to this point, and has seldom taken on consistent TV work outside of his voiceover role on "Bob's Burgers." Cate Blanchett, on the other hand, has become a more common fixture on TV recently. Prior to her casting in "Disclaimer," her recent small-screen parts include her role as Pat Masters in "Stateless," as well as starring as Phyllis Schlafly in "Mrs. America." Additional recent TV roles for Blanchett include a single episode stint on "Documentary Now!," as well as voiceover roles on "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy."

"Disclaimer" is based on a novel of the same name by Renée Knight and according to the press release for the series by Apple TV+, it's a story of shocking revelations and long-buried secrets. The action centers on Blanchett's journalist Catherine Ravenscroft, who is horrified when she reads a novel that includes dark details from her life she never thought anyone would ever know about. This discovery sends her spinning as things long-hidden begin to bubble to the surface. 

At first glance, this synopsis appears to play to Alfonso Cuarón's strengths as a filmmaker. Even with his bigger films such as "Gravity" and "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," he has arguably always excelled at his ability to tell very human stories set against sprawling backdrops. "Disclaimer" has the potential to tell a similarly large scale story due to Catherine Ravenscroft's longstanding battle against major institutions, but Cuarón can keep the story squarely on her.