On Becoming a God in Central Florida is an American dark comedy television series created by Robert Funke and Matt Lutsky that premiered on Showtime on August 25, 2019. The series stars Kirsten Dunst and is set in the early 1990s.
In September 2019, the series was renewed for a second season. However, in October 2020, the renewal decision was reversed and the series was canceled after only one season and ten episodes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contents
Plot
Krystal Stubbs is a minimum-wage-earning water park employee in Greater Orlando who schemes her way up the ranks of Founders American Merchandise, a cultish, flag-waving, multi-billion-dollar multi-level marketing pyramid scheme that drove her family to ruin.
Cast and characters
Main
Kirsten Dunst as Krystal Stubbs
Théodore Pellerin as Cody Bonar
Mel Rodriguez as Ernie Gomes
Beth Ditto as Bets Gomes
Ted Levine as Obie Garbeau II
Recurring
Usman Ally as Stan Van Grundegaard
Eric Allan Kramer as Carroll Wilkes
Julie Benz as Carole Wilkes
Billy Slaughter as Kissinger Haight
Josh Fadem as Pat Stanley
Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Rhonda
Cooper Jack Rubin as Harold Gomes
John Earl Jelks as Dr. Judd Waltrip
Melissa De Sousa as Mirta Herrera
Kevin J. O'Connor as Roger Penland
Sharon Lawrence as Louise Garbeau
Shari Headley as Harmony
Geoffrey Owens as Pastor Steve
Guest
Alexander Skarsgård as Travis Stubbs
Mary Steenburgen as Ellen Joy Bonar
David Paymer as Buck Bridges
Production
Development
On January 6, 2017, it was reported that AMC was developing the production. The series was created by Robert Funke and Matt Lutsky who also wrote the pilot episode and were set to executive produce for the series alongside Kirsten Dunst, Yorgos Lanthimos, George Clooney, and Grant Heslov. Lanthimos was also set to direct. Production companies involved with the series were expected to include Smokehouse Pictures, TriStar Television, and AMC Studios.
On June 25, 2018, it was announced that the production had moved to YouTube Premium, which had given it a series order for a first season consisting of 10 episodes. It was further reported that Esta Spalding and Charlie McDowell had joined the series as executive producers. Spaulding is also set to serve as showrunner and McDowell is set to direct, replacing Lanthimos as executive producer and director.
On June 17, 2019, it was announced that Showtime, which had acquired the series from TriStar, would air the series instead of YouTube and that it would premiere on August 25, 2019.
On September 26, 2019, Showtime renewed the series for a second season. However, on October 7, 2020, Showtime reversed the renewal and canceled the series, stating that "the [COVID-19 pandemic] has continued to challenge schedules across the board, and although we have made every effort to reunite the cast and crew for a second season, that has become untenable."
Casting
Alongside the initial development announcement, it was confirmed that Kirsten Dunst would star in the series. On August 28, 2018, it was announced that Théodore Pellerin had been cast in a lead role. On September 14, 2018, it was reported that Ted Levine, Mel Rodriguez, and Beth Ditto had joined the cast in series regular roles and that Usman Ally would appear on a recurring basis. On October 5, 2018, it was announced that Julie Benz had joined the cast in a recurring capacity. On November 28, 2018, it was reported that Melissa De Sousa would appear in a recurring role.
Filming
Principal photography for the series commenced in October 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. On October 8, 2018, filming took place in Westwego, Louisiana.
Reception
Critical response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 85% based on 47 reviews, with an average rating of 7.29/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Though it loses a bit of narrative steam, On Becoming a God in Central Florida proves a clever and absurd satire that will make you want to buy whatever Kirsten Dunst is selling." On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
