Joshua Jackson returns to network television in Ryan Murphy-created (Glee, American Horror Story, Monsters) series Doctor Odyssey, set to premiere on US network ABC on 26 September. Take a look at the show’s record-breaking (more on that below) trailer above!
The show introduces Jackson as Dr. Max Bankman, the new physician on a luxury cruise ship, where both work and personal lives are pushed to the limit. The series, produced by 20th Television in collaboration with Ryan Murphy Television, is described as a high-stakes procedural drama focused on a small medical team dealing with on-board crises while navigating their relationships, far from land.
Cast and Characters
Supporting cast members include Phillipa Soo, Sean Teale, and Don Johnson, who make up the primary medical team. Guest stars include well-known figures such as Shania Twain, John Stamos, Gina Gershon, Kelsea Ballerini, and Chord Overstreet, who will appear in various episodes throughout the season.
The series marks Joshua Jackson’s first network TV role since Fringe, which concluded in 2013. Jackson, who gained prominence with his role in Dawson’s Creek, has more recently appeared in Fatal Attraction and Dr. Death. This series also marks Ryan Murphy’s latest broadcast project, with his last ABC series being 9-1-1: Lone Star. Doctor Odyssey joins Murphy’s extensive production slate, which includes American Horror Story and the recently-released Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story for Netflix.
Trailer Viewership Sets Record
Though the plot details were kept largely secret, the release of the official trailer for Doctor Odyssey managed to set a new record for a broadcast series. Within 48 hours, the trailer amassed 77.8 million views, making it the most-watched trailer for a new broadcast TV show. As Deadline reports, the previous record was held by This Is Us, which garnered similar viewership over 11 days. The platform contributing most to Doctor Odyssey’s viewership was TikTok, where the official ABC channel attracted 38.8 million views, with Facebook contributing an additional 23 million.
