Be forewarned: Two won’t be staying Under the Dome
Life is only going to get more intense Under the Dome.
Residents of Chester’s Mill, trapped under a clear dome that turned black before emitting a blinding light in the first-season finale, will face more of its effects — causing some to collapse — when Season 2 opens (CBS, June 30, 10 p.m).
“This is a season of transformation,” executive producer Neal Baer says. “Last year was a season of secrets being revealed about our characters. Now, they really have to cope with the ramifications of what this all means, since it doesn’t look like they’re getting out any time soon.”
Dome, based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, was the most-watched scripted summer series in 21 years, averaging 15.1 million viewers, and performed strongly internationally. King wrote the second season’s first episode, Heads Will Roll, and will be seen in a cameo appearance in the town’s diner.
“It was fantastic to work directly with Stephen. He’s been a real hero of mine and now I get to work with him,” Baer says. In the cameo, the author, who has made brief appearances in other adapted works, “is just a citizen of Chester’s Mill for at least the moment.”
Two familiar characters will die in the opener of Dome, which is going beyond King’s book. However, the series also will add new people: Sam Verdreaux (Eddie Cahill), a reclusive man who is the brother-in- law of Big Jim Rennie (Dean Norris); Rebecca Pine (Karla Crome), a teacher who works with Big Jim and brings a science perspective; and Melanie (Grace Victoria Cox), a character pulled from the lake by Julia Shumway (Rachelle Lefevre) just after she throws the mysterious egg into the water at the end of the first-season finale.
Julia bonds with Melanie and Sam, who “seems to be a good ally,” although the latter connection could influence her relationship with Dale (Barbie) Barbara (Mike Vogel), Lefevre says. After she saves Melanie, “she becomes completely invested in her.” Julia must adapt to a leadership role after the Dome appears to tap her as “the monarch.” “Someone has to lead (but) how do you decide who that is?”