Arnold Schwarzenegger “Utap” Netflix series: What we know so far
Pictured: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Monica Barbaro, Jay Baruchel – Pictures by Getty Images
Arnold Schwarzenegger, first announced in late 2020, will star in his first-ever scripted television series, which is believed to be called that utap but was also referred to as FUBAR. Here’s what we know so far about the series, which stars Schwarzenegger in his first major Netflix venture and first major TV venture.
As Deadline reported, competition for the project was fierce, but ultimately Netflix won the bidding war. The news is incredibly exciting as Schwarzenegger had very little television experience and had never starred in a series. For over five decades, the herculean Austrian has starred in dozens of films, but his first steps into a big TV role will be on Netflix.
Schwarzenegger’s cast as the series’ lead continues his relationship with Skydance, having previously reprized his role as T-800 in Terminator: Genisys and Terminator: Dark Fate.
8 episodes will make up the first season.
Who is behind Utap on Netflix?
Skydance Television and Blackjack Films Inc. are the two major production companies behind the new series.
The acquisition of utap also continues the fruitful relationship between Netflix and Skydance. In 2020, the studio partnered with Denver and Delilah Productions to produce The Old Guardand with Bay Films on one of Netflix’s most expensive productions to date 6 underground. The studio also produced Grace and Frankie and the sci-fi series modified carbon.
Nick Santora serves as the series’ creator, executive producer and writer. He is best known for his work on popular series such as Scorpio, Breakout Kings, lie to meand Prison breakout.
Santora is also working on the biopic through his production company Blackjack Films dog away with Rob Lowe.
Nick Santora – Image: Getty Images
Bill Bost, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Arnold Schwarzenegger are all listed as executive producers.
We also learned that Phil Abraham is on board to direct episodes on the new series. The multiple Emmy-nominated and award-winning director has been involved in projects such as mad Men, The sopranos, breaking Bad, sons of anarchy, and the Walking Dead.
Phil Abraham – Image: IMDb
What is the plot of Utap/Fubar?
The series is based on True Lies, the 1994 action/comedy film that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton, Art Malik and Tia Carrere. The series is described as a “global espionage adventure”.
A father and daughter have both worked as CIA agents for years, but each kept their involvement in the CIA a secret from the other, resulting in their entire relationship being a gigantic lie. Learning of each other’s involvement with the CIA, the two are forced to work together as partners and discover who the other really is against a backdrop of explosive action and espionage.
Who are the cast of Utap/Fubar?
Announced extremely early on, we still only listed Arnold Schwarzenegger and actress Monica Barbaro as the only two cast members. The pair will portray a father-daughter dynamic.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Monica Barbaro
Schwarzenegger, best known for his roles in The Terminator, conan and predator, will play Luke Brunner, who is described as strong, gruff and lovable curmudgeon.
Speaking at the Arnold Sports Festival, Schwarzenegger told the news that he would soon be flying to Vancouver and directing his first screenplay series, “I’m always interested in doing different things.”
Barbaro is flying high after her role in Top Gun: Maverick. She will play the role of Emma in this Netflix series and has been described as the “eldest and most perfect daughter”. The actress will also star in the upcoming animated prequel Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas.
Cast grid for Utap on Netflix
Rounding out the cast are (listed in order of appearance in the grid above LR):
- Jay Baruchel as Carter Perlmutter – Emma’s sweet and clueless friend. Works as a primary school teacher.
- Travis Van Winkle as Aldon a wise CIA officer.
- Fabiana Udenio as Tally, the ex-wife of Schwarzenegger’s character.
- Scott Thompson as dr Louis pepper
- Devon Bostick as Oscar
- Andy Buckley as Donnie
Elsewhere in the cast we’ll see Milan Carter as Barry, a CIA officer who has worked alongside Brunner for 20 years. Fortune Feimster will play Roo, another CIA officer. Gabriel Luna plays Boro, the main villain of the first season.
You can see the full cast list here, and we’ll be releasing more character hints in the future.
What is the production status of Utap?
Thanks to ProductionWeekly, we know that the series is currently in pre-production as of January 2022. Pre-production is expected to end in early May.
Filming takes place in Toronto, Canada. According to What’s on Netflix production schedules, filming is scheduled to begin on May 2, 2022 and will last through August 25, 2022.
Photographer Sean O’Neill managed to capture Arnold Schwarzenegger backstage on set. We’ve embedded some of them below with permission, and you can see the full range on his Patreon.
You can also see various other production snaps and videos from enthusiastic production spotters below:
For the first time in his career, Arnold Schwarzenegger will appear in his first televised scripted series on Netflix, called Called #UTAP filming now 🎬 in downtown Toronto! 🇨🇦 It’s a father daughter spy adventure. @TOFilming_EM pic.twitter.com/CRnObWCH4i
— Anita Windisman (@AnitaWindisman) May 4, 2022
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