With “Station Eleven,” HBO is breathing new life into Emily St. John Mandel’s celebrated novel of the same name. The sprawling saga delves into the lives of several people before, during and after the rise of a deadly flu that wipes out 90 percent of the population. But the miniseries is about more than just the doom and gloom of the apocalypse: its real focus is the connections characters form through circumstance and a graphic novel called “Station Eleven.”
The main storylines revolve around a few key characters. There’s Kirsten, a young girl at the time of the apocalypse who survives through a chance meeting with a stranger, then by joining the Traveling Symphony, a theater troupe of thespians and artists devoted to keeping art alive in the new world. Movie star Arthur Leander is the center of a web that connects everyone from Kirsten to his ex-wives Miranda and Elizabeth to his best friend, Clark. Threading past to present is The Prophet, a mysterious figure who heads up a violent spiritual cult.
To help you keep track of the series’ many names and faces, here’s a guide of the cast and characters. Episodes 1-3 debuted Dec. 16; Episodes 4 and 5 debut Dec. 23; Episodes 6 and 7 debut Dec. 30; and Episodes 8 and 9 debut Jan. 6, 2022, followed by the Episode 10 finale on Jan. 13. “Station Eleven” is available exclusively on HBO Max.
Mackenzie Davis as Kirsten Raymonde
Mackenzie Davis, best known for her roles in “Black Mirror” and “Happiest Season,” stars as Kirsten Raymonde, a talented thespian who joined the Traveling Symphony as a young girl. Her post-apocalyptic trauma makes her a fierce fighter and protector of the more vulnerable members of the troupe, including the naive Alex.
Matilda Lawler as Young Kirsten Raymonde
Matilda Lawler plays the younger version of Kirsten Raymonde. When the flu hits, Young Kirsten is a theater actress playing in a production of “King Lear,” starring the famous Arthur Leander. Father figure Leander gives her a copy of his ex-wife’s graphic novel, “Station Eleven.”
Himesh Patel as Jeevan Chaudhary
The “Yesterday” and “Don’t Look Up” actor plays Jeevan, a journalist who walks Young Kirsten home after he meets her at the performance of “King Lear” where Arthur dies onstage. When Kirsten’s parents are nowhere to be found, he becomes her guardian during the early days of the flu.
Nabhaan Rizwan as Frank Chaudhary
Nabhaan Rizwan is Frank, a physically disabled journalist and Jeevan’s brother. Jeevan and Young Kirsten move into his apartment after the flu strikes.
Gael García Bernal as Arthur Leander
Gael García Bernal, whose recent projects include “Old” and “Mozart in the Jungle,” plays Arthur Leander, a stage and screen actor who suffers a heart attack while starring in a production of “King Lear.” He dies on Day 1 of the flu.
Danielle Deadwyler as Miranda Carroll
Danielle Deadwyler is Miranda Carroll, a logistics expert whose artistic passion leads her to create the graphic novel “Station Eleven.” She is also Arthur Leander’s first wife; they meet at a diner when he sees her drawing in a sketchbook.
David Wilmot as Clark Thompson
David Wilmot plays Arthur Leander’s best friend since their acting days and a former CEO consultant. On the day of the flu, he flies to Chicago to serve as the executor of Arthur’s will on a plane that gets diverted to Michigan’s Severn City Airport. He becomes a leader of the post-apocalypse community that settles there.
Philippine Velge as Alex
Philippine Velge’s Alex is a thespian and one of the only members of the Traveling Symphony born after the pandemic. Her restless energy and lack of flu-related trauma leads her into dangerous situations.
Joe Pingue as Dieter, Lori Petty as Sarah/The Conductor
As the longtime leader of the Traveling Symphony, Joe Pingue’s Dieter makes executive decisions about the troupe. Lori Petty’s Sarah, also known as The Conductor, is the theater’s co-leader and composer of all their shows. She was once romantically involved with Gil, a former member of the Symphony who left her to retire with a former professor named Katrina.
Daniel Zovatto as The Prophet
Daniel Zovatto is The Prophet, a dangerous cult leader who masquerades as a widower named Dan when he first crosses paths with the Traveling Symphony. The Prophet kidnaps and brainwashes people from various settlements with the message that all ties to the pre-apocalyptic world must be destroyed.
Caitlin FitzGerald as Elizabeth Colton
Caitlin FitzGerald (“Succession,” “The Trial of the Chicago 7”) plays Arthur Leander’s actress ex-wife and the mother of their child, Tyler. She and Tyler are headed to Chicago to see Arthur’s play when the flu diverts them to Severn City Airport.
Julian Obradors as Tyler Leander
Julian Obradors plays Tyler, the young son of Elizabeth Colton and Arthur Leander. Obsessed with his video game console, he’s preternaturally smart and almost never speaks.
Tim Simons as Jim
Jim is Miranda’s business associate. Along with Miranda, he is sent to Malaysia to present a business pitch when the flu erupts.
David Cross as Gil
David Cross plays Gil, a former director with the Traveling Symphony who retires with his university professor wife Katrina. He maintains a relationship with several members of the Symphony and occasionally hosts them at his house.
Milton Barnes as Miles
A former employee of the Severn City Airport, Miles becomes close with Clark once they form a post-apocalyptic community together. As an engineer, he becomes instrumental to the community’s leadership.
