Sean Penn heads to Mars in trailer for Hulu original series ‘The First’
“They all say the same thing, I’ll believe it when I see it. But that’s backwards. Belief comes first, only then can you see it. I’m asking you to use your imagination.”
Two-time Academy Award winner Sean Penn leads an ensemble cast in this near-future drama about a crew of astronauts attempting to become the first humans on Mars. Under the direction of visionary aerospace magnate Laz Ingram (Natascha McElhone), the crew contends with peril and personal sacrifice as they undertake the greatest pioneering feat in human history.
The First also stars LisaGay Hamilton, Hannah Ware, Keiko Agena, Bill Camp, Rey Lucas, James Ransone, Anna Jacoby-Heron, Brian Lee Franklin and Oded Fehr.
Executive Producers include creator and showrunner Beau Willimon (House of Cards) and Jordan Tappis for Westward Productions.
This is Penn’s debut as a TV series regular. He has previously guested on Ellen, Two and a Half Men and Friends most recently lent his voice to an episode of Family Guy. He is also set to star in and executive produce HBO’s Andrew Jackson miniseries, American Lion.
All eight episodes of The First debut on Friday, Sept. 14, only on Hulu.
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