Cinemax orders Quarry to series, continues its “evolution”

By Matt Wayt | February 3, 2015 | 4:33pm

Aux Features TV

Cinemax has ordered an eight-episode run of Quarry, the story of a Vietnam veteran (Logan Marshall-Green) who returns to Tennessee in 1972 and becomes embroiled in killing and corruption schemes on the Mississippi River. The series is based on the novels by Max Allan Collins and will be directed and executive produced by Greg Yaitanes (Banshee). Steve Golin (True Detective) will also serve as an executive producer. Among the show’s myriad co-stars are Peter Mullan (Top Of The Lake, Olive Kitteridge) and Skip Sudduth, whose performance as the science teacher last year on Louie was one of the season’s highlights.

Michael Lombardo, president of programming at HBO, called Quarry a “nuanced and dynamic show [that] marks an exciting moment in the evolution of Cinemax programming.” By “evolution,” he means the transition from being a network largely interested in gawking at naked bodies to one winning critical acclaim by cutting them open. It’s nice that Cinemax is committed to going legit, but let’s not discount the artistic merit of Co-Ed Confidential.