Imagine navigating the tumultuous waters of middle school—bullies, crushes, and school dances —while grappling with a newly blended family and the sudden realization that you possess extraordinary abilities. This is the journey of Ben, the 12-year-old protagonist of Apple TV+’s new release, “Me.”
The 10-episode season premiered on Apple TV+ on July 12. “Me” chronicles Ben’s quest to understand his superpowers, aided by his stepsister Max, as they unravel the mysteries and tragedies lurking within their community. As Ben confronts these challenges, he learns to harness his powers and discovers profound truths about identity, acceptance, and the true meaning of being Ben.
Barry L. Levy, the series’ writer and executive producer, sat down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with the Beacon, outlining the show’s direction, purpose, and future trajectory following its season premiere on July 12.
“Coming from a feature background, I always write visually, and I find that a lot of times it gets a director excited so that when you transition to television, it’s much more of a collaboration with the director,” Levy said. “Those touchstones became things we could just discuss and hold onto.”
With a robust production background, Levy has lent his expertise to a variety of notable projects, including “Vantage Point,” “Start Up,” “L.A’s Finest,” and several others. Drawing on his extensive experience, Levy approached the creation of “Me” with a keen focus on authentically capturing a young protagonist’s journey navigating the complexities of adolescence.
“From the first time I sat with Mike, we discussed the movies ‘E.T.,’ Stand By Me,’ ‘Super 8,’ and a bunch of these movies. None of them were superhero stories, but they all had this deep respect for that middle school adolescent experience that we wanted to capture and give credence, credit, and respect to what our characters are going through.”
Lucian-River Chauhan takes on the role of Ben alongside Abigail Pniowsky, who portrays Max, his stepsister and confidante. Throughout the series, Max plays a pivotal role in guiding Ben as he learns to harness his newfound abilities and uncover the enigmatic truths that shroud their community’s past.
As their on-screen journey unfolds, their dynamic shifts from tentative allies to a powerful partnership, confronting obstacles and strengthening their connection through shared trials and newfound revelations. Levy underscores the significance of their casting when reflecting on their evolving on-screen friendship throughout the series.
“We had their very first chem read on Zoom, and yet it was so clear that there was some dynamic and chemistry between them, even on screen,” Levy said. “When we got them in person, Mike, our director, rehearsed with them, and it was clear from the very first table that we had to do more, that these actors were getting it so well. Off-screen, they went to, had swim parties, connected, and played games on set when they weren’t on camera.”
Both actors delivered performances that reflected their genuine off-screen friendship, prompting Levy to adapt scenes scripted initially to enhance their on-screen chemistry.
“They built this sort of community and this culture that they established so that as it evolved, we were rewriting to give them more to do,” Levy added. “So that there are scenes even in the pilot, there’s the scene later in the season when Max has to face her issues with herself. Those scenes were written and then significantly rewritten and made deeper to accommodate these performers who could do much more than we had ever imagined.”
Season one concludes with a significant hint about Ben’s future and the potential emergence of other superpowered children within Levy’s meticulously crafted world. His foresight and planning extend beyond the current season, laying the groundwork for compelling narratives yet to unfold.
“I can only say that when I walked them through the pitch from the start, I had all the seasons in my mind lined up, and I could explain to them where each season goes. In season one, not just River but also Ben’s character, all the characters are trying to figure out who they are. And the question, ‘who am I,’ is central. ‘Who would you want to be if you could be anyone in the world?’ And the answer is our title.”
Before diving into his personal reflection, Levy explained a key scene from the early pages of the script: Ben sits in the cafeteria on his first day at school—a moment laden with symbolism and emotion.
“It’s funny in the script, even though it must’ve been like in the first few pages, there’s a scene where they’re sitting in the cafeteria. It’s his first day at school. I made a note in the script.” Levy explained, “It’s not that Ben isn’t eating; I know from personal experience that Ben can’t imagine the thought of food right now on day one. When I was in high school, we moved from Boston to Ann Arbor. And so my name went from Barry from Boston to Barry from Michigan. It was a shock to the system. I really wanted to capture that as well as I could.”
While Levy centered the series around Ben’s emotional journey and personal growth, his aim goes beyond the screen. He hopes that families watching together will take away a profound understanding of Ben’s development and a deeper connection to themes of resilience and unity amidst change.
“I think there are two things that I want. One is I want something for the entire family so they keep watching as a family, and no one goes ahead.” Levy said. He hopes that “there’s enough emotion, enough mystery, enough drama as well as comedy, and something for everyone” to be found in the show.
Levy’s vision for “Me” goes far beyond simple entertainment. He aspires to create a future for the series that captivates and fosters meaningful interactions among viewers.
“I want a discussion. To me, the most important thing we can do as producers or writers is inspire people to ask the right questions and open the dialogue between family members,” he said. “That’s why we’ve challenged ourselves with such a complicated web of lives.”
