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AMC's high-concept 'Soulmates' explores if finding true love is destiny or choice
What if you could take a test that could tell you the person you were meant to love the most with 100 percent accuracy? That’s the premise of Soulmates, AMC’s upcoming near-future anthology. Its creators, Will Bridges and Brett Goldstein, and cast virtually convened today to talk about at the CTAM AMC press day.
Set 15 years from now, it presents a reality where anyone can take a simple test that reveals their incontrovertible love connection. Considering there’s a billion dollar online app industry that tries to do that daily, and fails a lot, Bridges and Goldstein told reporters that the idea came from their interest in writing about modern relationships. “We came up with the soulmates test,” Goldstein said.
As to what that actually means, Bridges said for the purpose of the show, “Your soulmate is the person you will love the most more than anyone else. A soulmate isn’t someone who is going to fix you. It’s the person you will feel love for the strongest and it’s undeniable. Does that mean true happiness, or the best person for you?” He shrugged.
Since Soulmates is an anthology, each episode will follow a unique set of characters dealing with the soulmate test exploring: should they take it, why they don’t take it, what it does to existing relationships, etc…
The cast includes Malin Akerman (Watchmen) Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things) Betsy Brandt (Breaking Bad), Sarah Snook (Succession), Sonya Cassidy (Lodge 49), Shamier Anderson (Wynonna Earp), and Kingsley Ben-Adir (The OA).
As to why the series doesn’t follow one couple over a whole season, Goldstein said, “Following one couple over a season felt like a waste when you can tell so many relationships over so many places. That’s what excited us.”
Bridges continued, “We wanted to be very inclusive and tell all kinds of stories. And the premise sets that up. In Season 1, we had a gay writer but his episode is not about being gay. It’s directed by a gay man, and it’s just a fun story and I really like that the show allows you to do that. It’s love stories from different points of view. And because it’s an anthology, that opens it up to being inclusive. It’s all different genres too as long as it’s about relationships.”
The series has already been picked up for a second season, but Goldstein hopes there will be many more after that. “In the getting a green light, we presented four seasons worth of ideas,” he revealed. “We’re so pleased with the idea, and we want more writers and more diverse voices to hear their take. It feels infinite as long as it’s set in this world. So, Season 2 is not a new concept but just new stories within this world.”
Season 1 of Soulmates premieres October 5 on AMC.
