If you thought the first two seasons of HBO’sThe Righteous Gemstoneswas already filled with more comedic camp and religious hypocrisy than you could preach to a choir with, the new upcoming third season is about to push those godly limits even further. Per areport from Deadline, not only has the latest trailer for Season 3 dropped ahead of its premiere next month, but even more new faces have officially joined the already bustling cast.
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The Righteous Gemstonesis a dark comedy crime series helmed by creatorDanny McBride, who also executive produces and stars in the series. He previously worked on HBO’s other dark comedy seriesVice Principals, as well as various comedy classic films likePineapple Express(2008),Tropic Thunder(2008), and Illumination’sDespicable Me(2010). He could also be seen in notable horror flicks like Ridley Scott’sAlien: Covenant(2017), and he directed the last three films of the iconicHalloweenfranchise. Other executive producers onRighteous Gemstonesinclude Jody Hill, David Gordon Green, John Carcieri, Jeff Fradley, and Brandon James. Among the recurring stars are McBride, Adam DeVine (Modern Family), Edi Patterson (Knives Out), Tony Cavalero (The Conners), Cassidy Freeman (Doubt), Skyler Gisondo (Psych), John Goodman (Captive State), and more.
Now, per the newest casting announcement, joining all of them are Steve Zahn (The White Lotus), Stephen Dorff (Deputy), Shea Wigham (The Gray Man), Kristen Johnston (Mom), Lukas Haas (Babylon), Robert Oberst, Stephen Schneider (Lucifer), Iliza Shlesinger (Pieces of a Woman), Sturgill Simpson (Killers of the Flower Moon) and Casey Wilson (Black Monday).
The premise ofThe Righteous Gemstonescenters on the world-famous and outrageously wealthy televangelist Gemstone family, who has a long history of greed and deviance, all intertwined of course with charitable philanthropy for their audiences. The more-than-spoiled children of the Gemstone family finally reach their dream of taking over the Church, but they find leadership to be more difficult than anticipated, giving their overly extravagant lifestyles. The fallout from this passing of the holy torch proves to be a serious problem for not only the Gemstones, but all those within their circle of power.
The New Season Promises Even More Degeneracy On the Pulpit
The trailer opens with a less-than-heartwarming dinner gathering, where the criticism over the failing attendance of the Church starts to fly from other mega pastors within their circle. Widowed patriarch Eli Gemstone (Goodman) has since stepped down from the pulpit, his clearly unsuited children taking up the mantle and feigning ignorance of their being the source of the problem. Jesse (McBride) in particular is determined to run things like his father did, but so far isn’t impressing those around him, including his siblings Judy (Edi Patterson) and Kelvin (Adam DeVine). Oversized sculptured murals in the Church hilariously depict the three of them as saintly leaders, despite them actually being the complete opposite of such imagery. A major Nascar benefactor has pulled their monetary support as well, in the sum of a staggering $200 million. All of this worries Kelvin, who muses to Jesse that they might not have what it takes to lead like Eli did.
Jesse remains determined, however, and proclaims that the three of them will work together to restore the strength of their church, especially the financial strength. Their first hilariously bad step to accomplishing that is by recruiting the support of a local doomsday militia group called Tomorrow’s Fires, run by the powerful Montgomery family. The leader of the group, noticeably played by Steve Zahn, declares that the Gemstones are phonies who can’t be trusted when the “end of days” arrives. Jesse is tasked with gaining their trust, seemingly no matter the cost.
The third season ofThe Righteous Gemstoneswill have its two-episode premiere exclusively on HBO on June 18 at 10 PM EST. The new trailer can be viewed below.
