In the summer after their senior year, 23 graduates participate in the annual risky Panic competition, in which graduating seniors complete dangerous tasks. Winning Panic and the cash prize of $50,000 allows them to escape their small Texas town of Carp and therefore improve their lives. The challenges are created by two secret judges and are designed to force the players to confront their deepest fears. After the rules change, however, they must decide what risks they will take to escape their hometown.
Olivia Welch as Heather Nill,[2] a recent high school graduate who participates in Panic at the last minute, when her mom spends the tuition Heather saved. She lives in a trailer.
Mike Faist as Dodge Mason,[2] the new guy in Carp, Texas who participates in Panic, Natalie's love interest
Jessica Sula as Natalie Williams,[2] Heather's best friend who plans to participate in Panic from the start, but teams up with her to win Panic after Heather joins
Ray Nicholson as Ray Hall,[2] a legacy participant of Panic as his older brother Luke won Panic a few years ago, Heather's love interest
Camron Jones as Bishop Moore,[3] Heather's other best friend and love interest who watches Panic instead of participating. He comes from a wealthy family unlike most of his peers in Carp.
Enrique Murciano as Sheriff James Cortez,[2] the local sheriff, whose son died in previous year's Panic
On June 28, 2018, it was announced thatAmazon Studios had given the project a pilot order as part of their newyoung adult slate.Lauren Oliver was attached to create and write the adaptation of her own novel, as well as executive produce under her overall deal with Amazon Studios under her production company Glasstown Entertainment.[4] Other executive producers includedJoe Roth andJeff Kirschenbaum ofRoth/Kirschenbaum Films andAdam Schroeder.[5] On August 8, 2018,Leigh Janiak was announced to be directing and executive producing the pilot.[6] On May 16, 2019, it was announced that Amazon had given the project a series order.[7] On August 6, 2021, Amazon canceled the series after one season.[1]
Filming on the original pilot took place throughout September 2018 in Los Angeles.[13] The full series began filming in late October 2019 in theAustin,[14]Texas area.[10]
On May 11, 2021,Audible announced that it would release an original three-part spin-off audio novella entitledPanic: Ghosts and Legends, also written by series creator Lauren Oliver, on May 28, 2021, to coincide with the launch of the original television series on Prime Video. The audio series will feature the voices of cast members Olivia Welch, Camron Jones, and Ray Nicholson.[16]
OnRotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 65% based on 26 critic reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "It's completely preposterous and entirely too much, butPanic is never less than entertaining, no matter how far off the rails it flies."[17] OnMetacritic, it has a weighted average score of 54 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[18]
