‘Succession’ Director Andrij Parekh to Helm ‘The Retrievals,’ Netflix Series About Real-Life IVF Scandal From ‘Maid’ Creator

Emmy-winning “Succession” director Andrij Parekh revealed he is set to direct two episodes of Netflix’s upcoming series “The Retrievals.” Written and executive produced by Molly Smith Metzler, the Emmy-nominated creator of “Sirens” and “Maid,” the series is adapted from the eponymous hit podcast by Susan Burton and chronicles one woman’s crusade against a fertility center that operated on her — and almost 100 other women — without anesthesia.

Parekh also confirmed he will act as the cinematographer for the first episode of the series while speaking at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where he was part of a panel on streaming alongside “Bad Sisters” creator Sharon Horgan. The acclaimed director and cinematographer added that the series will be shot this fall.

Elsewhere in the conversation, Parekh spoke about his longtime partnership with HBO, where he was a part of two of the streamer’s biggest shows in recent years: “Succession” and “House of Dragon.” Enquired by an audience member as to how he feels about the impending Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, the creative shook his head and added simply: “I just hope that they have the wisdom to leave it alone.” 

Horgan, who last year signed a two-year first-look deal with HBO after finding major success at Apple TV with “Bad Sisters,” took a moment before briefly responding to the same question. 

“I’m hopeful nothing changes with HBO because it would be kind of crazy,” she said. “It’s such an iconic brand. It’s the ultimate premium streamer. I don’t know why you would want to interfere with that. If I said what I wanted to say, it would get me intro trouble.”

Speaking about moving to HBO, Horgan said her production label, Merman, “works with everyone.” 

“I had such an incredible experience with ‘Bad Sisters,’” she added. “It was life-changing, really, for my company as well. It was a wonderful experience and one I’d love to do again at some point in the future.” 

Horgan recalled first meeting Amy Gravitt — now executive vice president of HBO & Max comedy programming — two decades ago, right after the comedian’s first project, “Pulling.”  “We met at a cafe in London and it was like: what can we do together? Twenty years later, it finally happened. I just love the idea of working with Amy and getting to do something very different.” 

The first fruit of this new partnership is “Youth,” slated for release later in the year. Speaking about the series, Horgan said it is inspired by her own experience as “a woman of a certain age.” 

“There’s a small element of autobiography to it. It’s a little more similar to ‘Pulling’ and ‘Catastrophe,’ my previous shows,” she said. “It’s sort of about the sandwich generation, being in a certain time of your life where your parents are becoming more elderly, your children are refusing to leave home, and you’re caring for everyone. How do you care for yourself in that situation?”