The Mosquito Coast
Apple TV+
A new drama follows adventurous inventor Allie (Justin Theroux) who up sticks with his family to escape the US government and start a new life in Mexico.
JUSTIN THEROUX stars in an action-packed drama about a family on the run
The Mosquito Coast
NEW Genre: Drama Available: Friday 30 April Season: 1 Episodes: 7 (two episodes on Fri 30 Apr, then weekly) Runs: 60min TVSW says: A twist-laden adventure
‘When does optimism become zealotry?’ JUSTIN THEROUX
FORTY YEARS AGO, Paul Theroux’s awardwinning novel The Mosquito Coast captured the world’s imagination with its gripping portrayal of a family’s fight for survival as they sought a new life in Central America.
The story was turned into an acclaimed 1986 film starring Harrison Ford, and now it’s become a new seven-part series on Apple TV+.
The author’s nephew, Hollywood star Justin Theroux, takes on the lead role of idealistic family man and inventor Allie Fox, whose decision to go on the run with wife Margot (Melissa George) and their teenage children, Dina (Logan Polish) and Charlie (Gabriel Bateman), leads them into danger.
The series, adapted by Luther writer Neil Cross, begins with the family living an anti-consumerism, off-grid life in California and trying to evade the US government after a mysterious incident years before. But when Allie realises that officials are on their trail, the Foxes start an epic journey across the border into Mexico on a mission to reach the Mosquito Coast.
‘Allie is complex and an optimist. But at what point does that optimism become zealotry? There will be times where viewers like Allie and other times where viewers dislike him
because of the situations he puts his family in. He’s an anti-hero,’ says Theroux, 49, best known for his roles in
Mulholland Drive and The Leftovers.
‘It’s arguable whether what he’s doing improves the lives of his family or whether it’s harming them.’
As the Foxes set off on their punishing trek, they’re pursued by two US detectives, while Mexican gangster Lucrecia (Ofelia Medina), her hitman Bill Lee (Ian Hart) and the difficult terrain bring fresh obstacles.
‘Allie has instilled in his family this pioneering spirit. He believes they’re going to be the Swiss Family Robinson and free of all their troubles and pulling coconuts off palm trees,’ says Theroux. ‘But the reality is very different.’
NEW GENERATION
For the actor, despite his family connection to the novel, playing Allie was not a foregone conclusion.
‘Paul was already working with
Apple to create the show and I came along and expressed an interest,’ says Theroux. ‘It was a happy accident where, after loving the scripts, I was able to call him and say, “Hey, I’m going to play Allie.” He was chuffed.’
The series was partly filmed in Mexico and Theroux admits it opened his eyes to the real-life challenges of crossing the border with America.
‘You realise what a horrific journey it would be and how brutal that desert is. It’s miles of nothing,’ he says. ‘But Mexico was also fabulous. I’d never seen the breadth of varying landscapes – from deserts to congested cities to volcanoes and an incredible shoreline. I’m eager, if we get a season two, to go back.’