The Retrievals will be a Netflix drama series inspired by Susan Burton's podcast of the same name, produced by The New York Times and Serial Productions. The official announcement on September 16, 2026, confirms Emilia Jones, Jessica Chastain and Amy Ryan in the cast, but gives no release date. The production draws on a real case involving diverted fentanyl at a fertility clinic; the dramatization's lead characters, however, are fictional. This distinction matters so that future scenes or dialogue are not presented as documentary records.
What happened in the case behind the podcast?
According to Netflix's official account, women undergoing egg retrieval at Yale Fertility Center experienced pain because a nurse diverted fentanyl intended for their procedures and replaced it with saline. Susan Burton's podcast brings together patients' accounts and examines how they were heard. Netflix describes the series as inspired by that material, not as a literal reproduction of every account.
Who plays whom in the series?
- Emilia Jones plays Gabby Clemente, described as a New Haven bartender and student teacher who begins seeking out other victims after her experience at the clinic.
- Jessica Chastain plays Kaitlyn Langford, a former art historian who also learns she was affected and becomes one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit in the story.
- Amy Ryan plays Carla Russo, a clinic nurse who, in the narrative, admits to diverting fentanyl and diluting the medication with saline.
Netflix itself identifies Gabby, Kaitlyn and Carla as fictional characters. Their names and personal storylines therefore should not be confused with the identities or biographies of the people involved in the real case.
What is confirmed, and what remains unannounced?
Molly Smith Metzler writes and executive produces the adaptation. Susan Burton, who made the podcast, is also among the announced executive producers. Netflix has not released a premiere date or the complete cast; its announcement says more information about the remaining cast members will follow. Any projected release date or additional character list would therefore be speculation at this point.
For updates, check the series page on Tudum. To understand the investigated events, treat the podcast as the original journalistic work and the forthcoming series as a dramatic adaptation based on it.
