At a Glance
- Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia star as lovers whose romance ends in murder after 56 days
- The thriller series debuts February 18 on Prime Video, adapting Catherine Ryan Howard’s 2021 novel
- Investigators must untangle who died – and who killed them – as secrets unravel
- Why it matters: The adaptation promises the same addictive “who-done-it” suspense that made the book a hit
A chance grocery-store meeting spirals into obsession and murder in 56 Days, Prime Video’s upcoming thriller that News Of Los Angeles can exclusively reveal via its first trailer.
The eight-episode series, premiering Wednesday, Feb. 18, tracks two timelines: the whirlwind 56-day romance between Ciara (Dove Cameron) and Oliver (Avan Jogia) and the homicide investigation launched after a body is discovered in a bathtub. Jonathan P. Miller reported that the streamer promises a “twisted trajectory” as detectives Lee (Karla Souza) and Karl (Dorian Missick) race to identify both victim and killer.
From Attraction to Obsession
What begins as instant chemistry quickly turns dangerous. Ciara’s best friend Shyla (Megan Peta Hill) senses trouble immediately, telling her, “He’s not good for you.” The warning proves prophetic once investigators start digging.
Key clues emerge early:
- Oliver carries a second ID hidden in his wallet – different state, different name
- Shyla describes the couple as “obsessed with each other”
- Both lovers keep secrets that complicate the timeline
“It’s like they were obsessed with each other. I’m not sure which one of them was more demented,” Shyla says in the trailer.
Chemistry Behind the Scenes
Cameron, 30, and Jogia, 33, met for the first time on set, yet creators Lisa Zwerling and Karyn Usher say their connection is undeniable. “Their chemistry leaps off the screen – and it doesn’t hurt that they’re two of the best-looking humans on the planet,” the show-runners note.
The actors credit their characters’ emotional isolation for the believable intensity. “Two deeply lonely people who are not just attracted to each other, but trauma-bonded,” Cameron tells News Of Los Angeles. “Their romance is a chemical reaction fueled by obsession and the hope of being understood.”
Jogia echoes the sentiment, calling the project “less about morality than compatibility and the uneasy way damaged people sometimes fit together.” He adds that working with Cameron shaped his performance: “You don’t really know who your character is until you step into the ring with the actor across from you.”
Adapting a Lockdown Hit
Howard’s 2021 novel became a pandemic-era bestseller thanks to its contained setting and escalating paranoia. The screen version relocates the action to Boston and removes the COVID backdrop, but the creators insist “every single thread of the story pays off.” Howard collaborated on the changes, ensuring the adaptation retains what Cameron calls the “magic of the book’s ‘who-done-it’ suspense.”
Zwerling and Usher promise that familiar readers will still find surprises. “It was hugely important to us that she was happy,” they say of the author’s involvement, underscoring fidelity to the source material’s twists.
Investigation and Intrigue
As detectives Lee and Karl parse timelines, they confront conflicting perceptions of the lovers. Karl views Ciara as “innocent, naïve,” yet Shyla’s testimony hints at a darker dynamic. The split narrative structure layers the investigation over flashbacks of the romance, forcing viewers to question whom – if anyone – to trust.
The trailer teases mounting paranoia:
| Moment | Implication |
|---|---|
| Bathtub crime scene | Victim discovered in Ciara and Oliver’s home |
| Hidden ID | Oliver’s identity remains suspect |
| Shyla’s warning | Friendship strained by obsessive relationship |
| Mutual accusations | Both lovers suggest the other is dangerous |
Jogia believes the format invites scrutiny of the audience’s own biases. “The series interrogates how audiences project meaning onto romantic thrillers,” he explains. “There’s a lot of paranoia baked into how we watch these stories and whether that instinct is validated or destabilized becomes part of the experience.”
Release Details
All eight episodes of 56 Days premiere Feb. 18 on Prime Video, making it available for binge viewing worldwide. The adaptation joins a growing slate of book-to-screen thrillers on the platform, betting that fans of Howard’s novel – and newcomers – will devour the deadly love story in a single sitting.
Key Takeaways
- Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia headline the limited series as lovers whose 56-day affair ends in murder
- Prime Video drops the full season Feb. 18, eschewing weekly releases for a one-day binge
- Show-runners pledge loyalty to the source novel’s twists while updating setting and pandemic context
- Expect dual timelines, red-herring clues, and a final reveal designed to satisfy mystery enthusiasts
