Kerry Washington Trapped in Hulu’s Next Big Mind Game: What to Expect from the What Remains Series

Hulu has officially found its latest excuse to make viewers lose a night of sleep. The streaming giant is currently developing What Remains, a brand-new psychological thriller series based on Wendy Walker’s bestselling 2023 novel. While the premise alone is enough to pique interest, the real headline here is the casting. Kerry Washington is locked in to star and executive produce, proving once again that she holds a permanent VIP pass to the Hulu drama department.

Following her previous streaming stints yelling in pristine kitchens in Little Fires Everywhere and managing family drama in UnPrisoned, Washington is shifting gears into much darker territory. In the What Remains series, she will portray Detective Elise Sutton. On paper, Elise has it all figured out, she is a sharp cold case investigator, a devoted wife and a loving mother. Off paper, she is about to make a series of spectacularly bad decisions that will keep audiences glued to their screens.

The trouble begins when Elise fatally shoots a disturbed man in the line of duty. Instead of taking some standard paid leave and going to therapy like a normal person, she becomes utterly consumed by guilt. In a desperate bid to prove her lethal actions were justified, she tracks down and contacts the mysterious man she actually saved that day. It takes about five minutes for Elise to realize this survivor is highly dangerous, completely unhinged, and playing a terrifying psychological game where she is the ultimate prize.

Behind the camera, Hulu is assembling a team that knows exactly how to handle high-stakes tension. Chris Luccy (A Million Little Things) is penning the script, while McG (The O.C., Charlie's Angels) is on board to direct. Alongside 20th Television and Kapital Entertainment, Washington will executive produce under her own Simpson Street banner, ensuring her fingerprints are all over this slow-burn nightmare.

While the project is still in its initial development phase and a release date remains under wraps, the What Remains series is already positioning itself as a must-watch addition to the thriller landscape. Watching a brilliant detective willingly walk into a trap set by a predator promises the exact kind of high-anxiety television that makes for perfect weekend binging.

What do you think about Kerry Washington’s upcoming descent into psychological warfare? Head over to the comments section below to share your theories on how this adaptation will stack up against the book, and stick around The TV Cave for the latest casting updates and production news.