Amy Ryan Joins The Retrievals Alongside Emilia Jones in Netflix Drama
Amy Ryan Joins The Retrievals as the Oscar-nominated actress has signed on to star opposite Emilia Jones in Netflix’s upcoming drama series based on the Peabody Award-winning podcast of the same name.
The series comes from Molly Smith Metzler, the creator and executive producer of Maid and Sirens, and is inspired by the investigative podcast produced by Serial Productions and The New York Times. The story examines a disturbing real-life scandal at Yale Fertility Center in which a nurse stole fentanyl and replaced it with saline, leaving numerous women to undergo painful egg-retrieval procedures without the intended medication.
Amy Ryan Joins The Retrievals in Key Role
Ryan will play Carla Russo, a veteran nurse at Yale Fertility Center who is based on the nurse at the centre of the real-life scandal.
According to the casting report, Russo pleads guilty to diverting large quantities of fentanyl and replacing the medication with saline. The diversion meant patients undergoing egg-retrieval procedures did not receive the expected pain relief.
Ryan’s casting marks an important addition to the series, which previously announced Emilia Jones as its lead.
Emilia Jones Stars as Gabby Clemente
Emilia Jones will play Gabby Clemente, a New Haven bartender and student teacher whose experience at the fertility center changes her life.
After undergoing a traumatic egg-retrieval procedure, Clemente discovers that a nurse had been stealing fentanyl from the facility. She subsequently connects with other affected patients and helps lead a legal battle against Yale University.
The role puts Jones at the centre of the series’ story, while Ryan’s character represents the nurse whose actions triggered the crisis.
The Real-Life Yale Fertility Center Scandal
The story behind The Retrievals began in 2020 at Yale Fertility Center.
Women undergoing IVF egg-retrieval procedures began reporting unusually severe pain. The underlying reason was eventually discovered: a nurse had been taking fentanyl intended for patients and replacing it with saline.
The incident affected numerous patients and raised broader questions about how women’s pain is perceived and treated within healthcare.
The original podcast explored not only the theft itself but also the institutional failures and experiences of the women who reported suffering.
From Peabody-Winning Podcast to Netflix Series
The Retrievals originally appeared as a five-part investigative podcast from Serial Productions and The New York Times, hosted and reported by Susan Burton.
The podcast received the 2023 Peabody Award, with the Peabody Awards recognising its reporting on the Yale Fertility Center incident, institutional negligence and the treatment of women’s pain.
The podcast’s success helped bring the story to a much wider audience and eventually led to the development of the scripted Netflix adaptation.
Molly Smith Metzler Leads the Adaptation
Molly Smith Metzler is serving as writer and showrunner for the television adaptation.
Metzler is known for Netflix’s Maid and the series Sirens. She is also executive producing the project through her Quiet Coyote banner.
The production also includes LuckyChap, the company founded by Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and their partners. Dani Gorin, Tom Ackerley and Margot Robbie are among the executive producers for LuckyChap.
Lila Neugebauer to Direct the Pilot
Lila Neugebauer is also attached to the series and will direct its pilot episode.
Neugebauer has previously worked with Metzler on both Maid and Sirens, directing an episode of each series. She will also serve as an executive producer on The Retrievals.
Her involvement brings another established creative collaborator to the project as the series moves from podcast storytelling to scripted television.
Why The Retrievals Story Matters
The case goes beyond a conventional medical or criminal scandal.
The original podcast examined how patients experienced severe pain during procedures and how some of their complaints were initially misunderstood or dismissed.
The Peabody Awards highlighted the series’ exploration of gender bias, institutional negligence and women’s reproductive healthcare.
The television adaptation will bring those themes to a scripted format while focusing on the patients, the nurse involved and the institutional response.
Amy Ryan’s Television Role
Ryan is widely known for acclaimed film and television performances, including Gone Baby Gone, Birdman, The Wire, The Office and Only Murders in the Building.
Her role in The Retrievals will be particularly notable because it places her in a central series role in the Netflix drama. The casting report describes it as her first series-regular role.
Her experience across both dramatic and comedic roles could bring additional complexity to a character based on a real person involved in a highly disturbing case.
Netflix Builds Another True-Story Drama
The project adds another real-world story to Netflix’s growing slate of scripted dramas inspired by actual events.
The combination of a recognised cast, an acclaimed investigative podcast and an established television creator gives The Retrievals a strong foundation before its eventual release.
Netflix has not yet announced an official premiere date for the series.
What to Expect From The Retrievals
The series is expected to focus on the patients’ experiences, the investigation into the fentanyl theft and the legal consequences that followed.
At its centre will be the relationship between Gabby Clemente and the wider group of women who came together after discovering that their painful experiences were connected.
The story will also explore the institutional questions raised by the incident and how such a situation was able to continue before the theft was uncovered.
The Podcast’s Legacy
The original The Retrievals podcast became one of the most recognised investigative audio projects of recent years.
The Peabody-winning series was praised for combining detailed reporting with personal accounts from women who experienced the medical procedures and their aftermath.
Susan Burton’s reporting also examined the broader question of how women understand and communicate pain when medical professionals do not immediately identify its cause.
That focus is likely to remain central to the Netflix adaptation.
No Release Date Yet
Despite the casting announcement, Netflix has not announced a release date for The Retrievals.
The series is currently in development/production, with filming associated with New York and New Haven.
More casting announcements and production details are expected as the series moves closer to completion.
Key Takeaway
Amy Ryan Joins The Retrievals as the Oscar-nominated actress takes on the role of Carla Russo opposite Emilia Jones, who stars as Gabby Clemente.
The Netflix drama is based on the Peabody-winning The Retrievals podcast from Susan Burton, Serial Productions and The New York Times. The story centres on the real-life Yale Fertility Center fentanyl theft scandal that left numerous IVF patients experiencing severe pain during egg-retrieval procedures.
With Molly Smith Metzler leading the adaptation and LuckyChap involved in production, the series is shaping up as a major new Netflix drama based on a deeply disturbing real-world case.
FAQs
1. Who is Amy Ryan playing in The Retrievals?
Amy Ryan will play Carla Russo, a veteran nurse at Yale Fertility Center who diverted fentanyl and replaced it with saline.
2. Who stars in The Retrievals?
Emilia Jones stars as Gabby Clemente, while Amy Ryan will play Carla Russo.
3. What is The Retrievals about?
The series follows IVF patients who experienced severe pain after a nurse stole fentanyl intended for their procedures and replaced it with saline.
4. Is The Retrievals based on a true story?
Yes. The series is inspired by the real-life Yale Fertility Center scandal and the Peabody-winning investigative podcast from Susan Burton.
5. Who created The Retrievals Netflix series?
Molly Smith Metzler is the writer and showrunner of the Netflix adaptation.
6. Did the original podcast win a Peabody Award?
Yes. The Retrievals won the 2023 Peabody Award for its investigative reporting and examination of institutional negligence and women’s reproductive healthcare.
7. Who is Emilia Jones playing?
Emilia Jones plays Gabby Clemente, a New Haven resident whose traumatic fertility treatment experience leads her to organise other affected patients and pursue legal action against Yale.
8. When will The Retrievals be released on Netflix?
Netflix has not announced an official release date yet.
