From the talented executive producer James Wan, who has thrilled audiences with hit horror franchises like Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring Universe, comes an exciting new horror series just in time for Halloween.
Titled Teacup, the show is created by Ian McCulloch and based on the New York Times best-selling novel Stinger by Robert R. McCammon.
Teacup tells the gripping story of a group of family, friends, and neighbors who are forced to confront a deadly threat while trapped in an isolated rural ranch in Georgia. As tension rises, old conflicts must be set aside to focus on survival.
The eerie atmosphere of the series, combined with its compelling story, has already caught the attention of horror enthusiasts, including the legendary Stephen King. King himself took to social media to praise the show, calling it “strange, creepy, claustrophobic, and scary,” and adding, “all killer, no filler.”
His endorsement has only fueled the growing anticipation for the show’s release. Let’s take a closer look at what makes Teacup such a thrilling and highly anticipated series, and what we can expect from its terrifying story.
Does Teacup Have a Release Date?
Fans won’t have to wait long for Teacup to hit their screens. The first two episodes of the eight-part series are set to premiere on October 10, 2024, exclusively on Peacock. The episodes will be released in a format that keeps the excitement building week by week, with two episodes dropping every Thursday.
After the first two episodes, episodes three and four will air on October 17, followed by episodes five and six on October 24. The final two episodes are perfectly timed to be released on Halloween night, October 31, promising a spooky conclusion to the show’s first season.
Each episode is a compact but powerful half-hour of horror, designed to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. With a total of eight episodes, the show packs a lot of scares into its short runtime, ensuring that each installment is filled with intensity. This release schedule allows fans to savor the suspense while building up to a terrifying finale on the spookiest night of the year.
October is already known for being a prime time for horror, and this year’s lineup is no exception. In addition to Teacup, other highly anticipated horror films like Terrifier 3, Rumors, Smile 2, and Your Monster are set to be released throughout the month. Horror fans are in for a packed schedule of thrilling content, making October 2024 a month to remember.
Where Can You Watch Teacup?
Teacup will be available exclusively on Peacock, the streaming platform that has quickly become a go-to destination for horror content. Peacock is home to an impressive collection of both classic and new horror films and series, making it the perfect platform to premiere Teacup.
The show’s release adds to an already exciting lineup for the Halloween season, with plenty of other spooky shows and films to enjoy.
In addition to adult-oriented horror, Peacock also offers a great selection of family-friendly Halloween movies, perfect for households with young viewers who want to enjoy the spooky season without the scares. Whether you’re in the mood for terrifying thrills or a lighthearted family movie night, Peacock has something for everyone this Halloween.
For those interested in watching Teacup and more, Peacock offers two subscription plans:
- Peacock Premium: This plan costs $5.99 per month or $60 per year and includes ad-supported access to the entire Peacock catalog, including NBC originals and WWE content.
- Peacock Premium Plus: For $14.99 per month or $120 per year, this plan offers ad-free access to Peacock’s catalog, along with the ability to download titles for offline viewing and live stream local NBC stations.
With either plan, viewers will have access to all eight episodes of Teacup as they’re released throughout October.
Watch the Official Trailer for Teacup
Peacock began building anticipation for Teacup with the release of a 30-second teaser trailer in August 2024. Though brief, the teaser was enough to grab the attention of horror fans. The teaser featured no dialogue, but it did show unsettling glimpses of the chaos to come.
Throughout the video, the words “we are in control” flash on the screen, only to be replaced moments later by “we are not in control,” hinting at the power struggle that plays out in the series. As the scenes progress, it becomes clear that the situation is spiraling out of control, with terrifying consequences for the characters.
The full-length official trailer was released by Peacock in September 2024, and it quickly garnered nearly two million views on YouTube. This longer trailer provides a deeper look into the story, revealing the once-peaceful ranch’s descent into chaos.
The trailer perfectly balances setting the tone of the series without giving away too many details about the mysterious threat. Viewers catch glimpses of family and neighbors frantically trying to survive while tensions rise between them.
One particularly intriguing scene suggests that the youngest resident of the ranch, Arlo, may know more about the masked attacker than anyone else. The central mystery of the series revolves around this terrifying figure—a man in a gas mask—and the reason he is targeting this isolated ranch.
What Is Teacup About?
The plot of Teacup centers on a tight-knit group of people living on a remote ranch in rural Georgia. The story begins on what seems like an ordinary day, but strange things soon start to happen.
The animals on the ranch begin acting strangely, the sky grows dark with ominous clouds, and an unnatural stillness falls over the land. Tension rises as the residents brace for an impending storm.
The calm is shattered when young Arlo, a child living on the ranch, goes out in search of his missing goat. When he returns, he brings news of a frightening discovery. He claims to have seen a strange man in a gas mask lurking on the ranch.
At first, the adults are skeptical, but their doubts quickly fade when they too catch a glimpse of the masked figure. From that point on, it becomes clear that the danger is real, and the group must come together to face this unknown threat.
As the situation grows more desperate, old conflicts between family members and neighbors threaten to tear them apart. However, they have no choice but to put their differences aside if they want to survive. The series shows themes of trust, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to when their lives are on the line.
As the group struggles to stay alive, they must also confront the mystery of who—or what—the man in the gas mask really is, and why he has targeted their isolated home.
Peacock’s official synopsis for the show reads: “Teacup follows a disparate group of people in rural Georgia who must come together in the face of a mysterious threat in order to survive. Inspired by the New York Times bestselling novel Stinger by Robert McCammon.”
Who Stars in Teacup?
Teacup boasts an impressive cast of actors, many of whom are familiar faces from popular television shows and films. The Chenoweth family, one of the central families in the story, is portrayed by Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Maggie Chenoweth, and Scott Speedman (Grey’s Anatomy) as James Chenoweth.
Their two children, Meryl and Arlo, are played by Emilie Bierre (A Colony) and Caleb Dolden (The Requiem Boogie), respectively. Completing the Chenoweth family is Kathy Baker (Picket Fences), who plays Ellen, James’s mother.
Another important family in the story is the Shanley family. Chaske Spencer (The Twilight Saga) plays Ruben Shanley, while Diany Rodriguez (The Blacklist) takes on the role of Valeria Shanley. Luciano Leroux (Yellowjackets) plays their son, Nicholas Shanley.
In addition to the main families, Teacup features a strong supporting cast that includes Rob Morgan (Mudbound) as McNab, Boris McGiver (House of Cards) as Donald, Jackson Kelly (Chucky) as Travis, Ashley Shelton (The Good Lord Bird) as Mary Alice, Adelina Anthony (Vida) as Carmen, Alice Kremelberg (Orange Is the New Black) as Izzy, Patrick Cox (2 Broke Girls) as Al, Gianni Biasetti Jr. (Avengers: Endgame) as Milo, and Juliene Joyner (Unhinged) as Carol.
Who Made Teacup?
The series was created, written, and executive produced by Ian McCulloch, who is known for his work on Chicago Fire and Yellowstone. McCulloch co-wrote the series with Zoe Cooper, who has worked on other popular projects like The Penguin and the V/H/S horror franchise.
Directing duties for Teacup are shared by E.L. Katz (The Haunting of Bly Manor), John Hyams (Black Summer), Chloe Okuno (Let the Right One In), and Kevin Tancharoen (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.).
In addition to McCulloch and Katz, other executive producers on the series include Yvonne Strahovski, Dana Scott (Utopia), Michael Clear (Malignant), Rob Hackett (Archive 81), Francisca X. Hu (Sleepy Hollow), and Stinger author Robert R. McCammon. The show’s visual atmosphere is brought to life by cinematographers Jeffrey Waldron (The Morning Show), Isaac Bauman (Loki), and Ross Riege (The Kings of Summer).
The Terrifying Conclusion
As the October 10 release date for Teacup draws near, anticipation continues to build for what promises to be one of the most chilling horror series of the season. With a talented cast, an eerie setting, and a mysterious, deadly threat, Teacup is set to deliver all the thrills, scares, and suspense that horror fans crave.
Stephen King’s endorsement of the show has only added to the excitement, and the weekly release schedule ensures that viewers will be on the edge of their seats as the story unfolds.
So, grab your popcorn, dim the lights, and get ready for a terrifying ride as Teacup makes its way to Peacock this October. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the horror genre or someone just looking for some Halloween chills, Teacup promises to be a show that will keep you hooked from start to finish.
