Plot Synopsis

Based on real-life events, CHERNOBYL is a five-part miniseries that dramatizes the story of the 1986 nuclear plant disaster in Ukraine, one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history, and tells of the brave men and women who sacrificed to save Europe from unimaginable disaster. Filmed on location in Lithuania, the miniseries is a tale of lies and cowardice, of courage and conviction, of human failure and human nobility. Jared Harris portrays Valery Legasov, a leading Soviet nuclear physicist. As part of the response team, he is one of the first to grasp the scope of the unparalleled disaster that has occurred. Stellan Skarsgard plays Soviet Deputy Prime Minister Boris Shcherbina, who is assigned by the Kremlin to lead the government commission on Chernobyl in the hours immediately following the accident. Emily Watson portrays Ulana Khomyuk, a Soviet nuclear physicist committed to solving the mystery of what led to the Chernobyl disaster. Episodes include:

"1:23:45" (Debuts Monday, May 6 @ 9pm ET/PT): April 26, 1986, Ukrainian SSR. Plant workers and firefighters put their lives on the line to control a catastrophic 1986 explosion at a Soviet nuclear power plant. Written by Craig Mazin; directed by Johan Renck.

"Please Remain Calm" (Debuts Monday, May 13 @ 9pm ET/PT): With untold millions at risk after the Chernobyl explosion, nuclear physicist Ulana Khomyuk makes a desperate attempt to reach Valery Legasov, a leading Soviet nuclear physicist, and warn him about the threat of second explosion that could devastate the continent. Written by Craig Mazin; directed by Johan Renck.

"Open Wide, O Earth" (Debuts Monday, May 20 @ 9pm ET/PT): Lyudmilla Ignatenko, a Pripyat resident, ignores warning about her firefighter husband's contamination; Valery Legasov lays out a decontamination plan, complete with human risks. Written by Craig Mazin; directed by Johan Renck.

"The Happiness of All Mankind" (Debuts Monday, May 27 @ 9pm ET/PT): Valery Legasov and Soviet Deputy Prime Minister Boris Shcherbina consider using lunar rovers to remove radioactive debris, while Ulana Khomyuk faces government hurdles in determining the truth about the cause of the explosion. Written by Craig Mazin; directed by Johan Renck.

"Vichnaya Pamyat" (Debuts Monday, June 3 @ 9pm ET/PT): Valery Legasov, Boris Shcherbina and Ulana Khomyuk risk their lives and reputations to expose the truth about Chernobyl. Written by Craig Mazin; directed by Johan Renck.