Releasing May 5 on Apple TV+ is Silo, a sci-fi mystery series set in a ruined and toxic future where the remnants of humanity live in a giant underground silo that is hundreds of stories deep, where the citizens live under a strict set of rules which they believe is meant to protect them.
Based on the bestselling Hugh Howey novels, Silo is brought to the screen by showrunner Graham Yost, who wrote the screenplays for action films Speed and Broken Arrow, produced acclaimed miniseries From the Earth to the Moon and The Pacific, and created the crime western series Justified.
With such a strong creative mind running the show and a cast that includes talented actors like Rebecca Ferguson, David Oyelowo, and Tim Robbins, it is no surprise that Silo has received strong early reviews that describe the series as a “beautifully realised slice of science fiction.”
What is Silo about?
Silo is set in a post-apocalyptic future where the outside world is uninhabitable, and a community of 10,000 people survive inside a giant underground silo. Within this structure the citizens must adhere to a strict set of rules put in place for their “safety”. Breaking these rules is a death sentence.
When someone breaks a rule leading to a string of deaths and puzzling events, a hardworking engineer named Juliette (Rebecca Ferguson) investigates just what is the true purpose of the silo, in the process uncovering shocking and dark secrets that threatens to tear their “safe” world apart.
What is Silo based on?
The Silo series is based on the bestselling series of novels by American writer Hugh Howey, which is itself broken down into three acts across nine stories: Wool, Shift and Dust.
Howey first released a standalone short story online in 2011 which quickly became a viral sensation within science fiction circles. With high demand for a follow-up, Howey would comply with several short stories that would be spread over three novels. The first act of the series, Wool (which takes place across five stories) serves as the basis for the first season of Silo. Howey announced in 2021 that he is working on an as-yet-untitled fourth book/act in the series.
WATCH the trailer for Silo below.
Who stars in Silo?
Rebecca Ferguson stars as Juliette, an engineer who seeks the truth about the underground world she inhabits. Swedish actress Ferguson is mostly known for her role as MI6 agent Isla Faust in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Agent and Mission: Impossible – Fallout. Other notable roles include a Golden Globe-nominated turn in miniseries The White Queen, a chilling villainous performance in the Stephen King horror movie Doctor Sleep, and a scene-stealing supporting turn in musical The Greatest Showman.
British actor David Oyelowo stars as Holston Becker, the well-liked sheriff who runs afoul of those who run the silo. Oyelowo first made a name for himself in the spy drama Spooks, before starring in a succession of high-profile Hollywood productions such as Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Help, and Jack Reacher. Oyelowo would go on to receive universal acclaim and numerous accolades for his portrayal of Martin Luther King Jr. in the 2014 biopic Selma.
Rashida Jones stars as Allison Becker, the wife of Holston who openly begins to question just who runs the silo and what is its purpose. The daughter of legendary music producer Quincy Jones, Jones has made a name for herself with memorable performances in the comedy series The Office and Parks and Recreation. Jones is also a writer and director, winning a Grammy award for her documentary Quincy which delved into the life and career of her father.
Former rapper turned actor Common plays Robert Sims, a judicial agent who keeps a watchful eye on anything that doesn’t conform to the rules of the silo. A Grammy award-winning hip-hop star, Common is also a prolific presence in film and TV, with notable roles in the crime biopic American Gangster alongside Denzel Washington, the action thriller John Wick 2 where he trades blows and bullets with Keanu Reeves, and the western TV series Hell on Wheels.
Tim Robbins stars as Bernard Holland, the mayor of the silo who believes that an iron rule is the only way to help his citizens survive. Robbins first garnered strong notices for his roles in sports comedy Bull Durham alongside Kevin Costner and the Robert Altman-directed comedy The Player, before starring in the highly acclaimed drama The Shawshank Redemption as wrongly incarcerated prisoner Andy Dufresne. Robbins would win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the Clint Eastwood-directed Mystic River and would also be nominated for Best Director for his work on the drama Dead Man Walking.
Where is Silo streaming?
Silo will stream starting on May 5 on Apple TV+ with the first two episodes available to watch. The remaining eight episodes will be available on a weekly basis.