Fabien Frankel & Will Harrison Crash the Yale IVF Drama, The Retrievals

Netflix has just announced that French‑born English actor Fabien Frankel and American performer Will Harrison have joined the cast of its forthcoming drama series The Retrievals. The two actors will appear in the upcoming season slated for release on the streaming platform later this year.

Their roles were revealed in a press release issued on Thursday, following the earlier announcement of Jessica Chastain in the leading role.

In the series, Frankel portrays Ian—a seasoned older brother who becomes a guardian figure for Gabby Clemente, the protagonist played by Emilia Jones. Ian is described as a father of three and has maintained sobriety for ten years, bringing a calm yet firm presence to the cast.

Meanwhile, Harrison steps into the role of Victor, Gabby’s high‑school sweetheart who is now her husband. His character brings a sense of family warmth and an eagerness to start his own lineage.

The Retrievals follows a group of IVF patients who unite after a harrowing incident at Yale University, where they were operated on without anesthesia following the theft of fentanyl by a nurse portrayed by Amy Ryan.

The show is rooted in the real‑life lawsuit led by Jessica Chastain against Yale, and it draws inspiration from a Peabody‑winning New York Times podcast by Susan Burton. Production is handled by LuckyChap and Quiet Coyote, with Molly Smith Metzler serving as writer, showrunner, and executive producer.

## Background & Context

Before adding Frankel and Harrison, Netflix had already confirmed Jessica Chastain in the role of Kaitlyn Langford, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit that serves as the series’ backbone.

Amy Ryan was also announced as the nurse who stole fentanyl, while Molly Smith Metzler—known for her work on Sirens and Maid—will helm the project as writer, showrunner, and executive producer. The series derives from a podcast by Susan Burton, which earned a Peabody Award for its investigative reporting.

The show is produced through LuckyChap, the production company founded by Margot Robbie, and Quiet Coyote, co‑founded by Molly Smith Metzler. Executive producers include Dani Gorin and Tom Ackerley, both of whom have collaborated with Robbie on past projects, as well as Colin McKenna from Maid and Sirens.

Additional executive producers are Caitlin Roper—who also contributed to the New York Times podcast—and Lila Neugebauer, an alum of Maid and Sirens who will direct the pilot episode.

## Cast Additions Detail

Fabien Frankel, a French‑born English actor, has recently gained recognition for his role as Ser Criston Cole in HBO’s House of the Dragon and as detective Anthony Grasso in the first season of Task. He is set to appear in an upcoming A24 horror film directed by Arkasha Stevenson.

Frankel is represented by Curtis Brown Group, CAA, Luber Roklin Entertainment, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. In The Retrievals, he will bring a seasoned presence to the character of Ian, a steadfast brother and mentor to the lead.

Will Harrison has appeared in several high‑profile series including Daisy Jones & The Six, Murdaugh: Death in the Family, and Manhunt, as well as playing folk artist Bobby Neuwirth in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.

He is slated to star in Nicolas Curcio’s horror film Play House, which will debut at Fantastic Fest this week, and Hanna Gray Organschi’s drama Rubber Hut. Harrison is represented by Gersh and 3 Arts Entertainment. His role as Victor in The Retrievals positions him as Gabby’s supportive husband and former high‑school sweetheart.

## Production & Next Steps

Production for The Retrievals is underway with filming expected to wrap later this year. While an official premiere date has yet to be announced, Netflix plans to position the series as a flagship drama in its lineup of original content.

The show’s narrative intertwines legal drama with personal stories of IVF patients, drawing from real‑world legal proceedings and podcast journalism. Viewers can anticipate a complex portrayal of family dynamics, medical ethics, and courtroom battles in the first season’s 10‑episode arc.

Alongside Frankel and Harrison, the series features Jessica Chastain as Kaitlyn Langford, Amy Ryan in the pivotal nurse role, and Molly Smith Metzler as writer‑showrunner.

Lila Neugebauer will direct the pilot, while executive producers Dani Gorin, Tom Ackerley, Colin McKenna, and Caitlin Roper bring extensive experience from their previous projects.

With its focus on a controversial lawsuit and the emotional fallout of IVF procedures, The Retrievals aims to combine social commentary with character‑driven storytelling.

The addition of Frankel and Harrison expands Netflix’s growing roster of original dramas, bringing seasoned talent to a narrative rooted in real legal battles and medical ethics. As production moves forward, fans will watch closely to see how the series balances courtroom tension with the intimate journeys of its diverse characters.

The Retrievals promises to be a bold entry into Netflix’s drama catalog, reflecting the platform’s commitment to socially relevant storytelling.