A crime thriller TV series that can take your breath away with its tremendous plot is “StartUp”.
Let’s find out more it!
- StartUp is an American streaming television drama series.
- It was created by Ben Ketai.
- It premiered on September 6, 2016.
- It premiered on Crackle.
- The series stars Adam Brody, Edi Gathegi, Otmara Marrero, Martin Freeman, Ron Perlman, Addison Timlin, and Mira Sorvino.
- On November 15, 2017, the series was renewed for a third season.
- It was released on November 1, 2018.
- On May 4, 2021, the show was made available on Netflix.
- StartUp follows “the emergence of GenCoin, a brilliant yet controversial tech idea centered on digital currency- an idea that gets incubated on the wrong side of the tracks by three strangers who don’t necessarily fit the mold of tech entrepreneurs and a crooked FBI agent who will go to any lengths to take them down.
- Ron’s tattoo “1804” is a reference to the year Haiti won its independence from France, making it the only nation of slaves to win its freedom by military means.
- Season 4 stayed in limbo due to crackle neither renewing or cancelling the show. Now due to its popularity in Netflix and being in the top 10 in its streaming service for nearly a month; A season 4 is now a strong possibility
- Edi Gathegi at first declined the role of Ronald Dacey thinking it would only be a recurring character. Adam Brody went to see him and convinced him to take on the role.
- StartUp’s newfound success in 2021 comes at a time when cryptocurrency is dominating the financial landscape.
- The show has been a hit in Puerto Rico due to its move on Netflix in 2021 and being filmed on the island.
- Otmara Marrero who plays Izzie Morales has stated that it was her breakthrough role
- Edi Gathegi has said Ronald Dacey is one of his favorite characters
- The show was criticized due to its sex scenes with critics describing it as aggressive and not love making. The show creator Ben Katai has said the sex scenes represent the aggressivenes they feel inside and the world around them.
- The show didn’t receive much buzz until its move to Netflix in 2021.
- Fredrick Bam Scott as Emmanuel, one of Dacey’s friends and gang enforcers. He isn’t just an actor in the show but he’s also a musical contributor to the show, and is a Latin Grammy Award winner.
- Scott has also starred in Burn Notice, Graceland and Miami Beach.
- Martin Freeman started filming the first season of the show at the same time he was filming the fourth season of Sherlock.
- While Season 1 received mixed reviews, Season 2 and 3 were loved by both fan and critics.
- Perlman has a lengthy resume of over 250 on-screen appearances, many of which are cult favorites, like his work in the Hellboy franchise, his role as Vincent in Beauty and the Beast, on Sons fo Anarchy, and in Alien: Resurrection.
- He has stated that filming the show in Puerto Rico had been extremely fun due to its people from the island and the location.
- Some of the extras are known local actors of Puerto Rico.
- One of the first shows from crackle to be moved to Netflix.
- Lovenski Jean-Baptiste who plays jey-jey is one of the few actors originally from Haiti
- Most of the show was filmed on the poor places of Puerto Rico
- Bruce Willis was approached for the role of Wes Chandler before Ron Perlman was cast.
- Most of the actors who play the Morales aren’t Cuban except for Tony Plana who plays Mr Morales who was born in Havana, Cuba.
- Ivana Méndez who plays Finley (Martin Freeman’s daughter on the show) is from San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Ektor Rivera who plays Eddie sings in an episode. He is known as a Broadway actor and one of the few local actors from Puerto Rico with a substantial role in the series.
- Startup has been compared to Ozark due to its money laundering plot, drugs, and gangs in both shows.
- One of Ben Kitai’s few projects that isn’t horror or a mystery like most of his projects. Another exception is Chosen.
- Adam Brody is also a producer of the show
- Michael Pitt was in talks of being on the show in an undisclosed character in season 3.
- One of the few times Martin Freeman plays a villain or a scummy/shaded character
- Martin Freeman left at the end of Season 2 due to commitments in the MCU and feeling his character arc had reached an end
- In episode 8, the gang is chanting “Da-Cey” for Ronald Dacey & his son, Touie. And also a french chanting meaning: “Union Makes The Force” in French
- Ashley Hinshawn who played Nick’s love interest in season 1 could not be in season 2 due to filming Chicago fire and was replaced by Addison Timlin who portrays Mara Chandler, Wes’ daughter and Nick’s new love interest in season 2 &3 .
