KAOS on Netflix preview: When to watch and what to expect

Are you ready for some chaotic Greek gods? Well, Netflix will be leaning into all the chaos with KAOS, the streamer's brand-new mythological dark comedy-drama. If you know anything about the forthcoming series, you know that it stars Jeff Goldblum as Zeus, king of the gods. But what happens when Zeus fears his power begins to slip away from his grasp?

KAOS arrives at the end of August to see off summer with a bang before fall swoops in with plenty more high-profile new Netflix shows and movies in September. Wondering what to expect from the new fantasy series and what time you can start watching? Here's a preview of KAOS including everything you need to know before you check out the series on Aug. 29.

Release date and time

KAOS will be released on Netflix on Thursday, Aug. 29 at midnight PT. Of course, for viewers on the East Coast of the United States, that means the series will premiere at 3 a.m. That's a bit late to stay up and watch the eight-episode first season, but if you're a night owl, KAOS will be waiting for you in the wee hours of the morning.

For those in Hawaii, you can start watching Jeff Goldblum's latest role at 9 p.m. local time on Wednesday, Aug. 28, while those in other parts of the world will be able to start watching throughout the morning, afternoon, and on Thursday, Aug. 29. Find out what time KAOS premieres on Netflix in your area with help from our time zone release guide below:

Synopsis, cast, and trailer

Judging by the synopsis and trailer, KAOS will be unlike any Greek mythology story we have seen on screen. The series seems a bit campy and out there, which means it will be totally enthralling and a spectacle to behold. As previously mentioned, Goldblum plays Zeus, whose anxieties wash over him all at once when he notices he's developed a wrinkle. Obviously, that means he's no longer invincible and his power as King of the Gods will dwindle.

Zeus finds himself growing paranoid and selfish as he tries to reclaim control of his destiny, but the rest of the gods around him, including Hades, Hera, and Dionysus, are also in tricky positions. Meanwhile, three mortals on Earth are becoming aware of their connection to the Greek gods, and this realization of their connection to each other and the gods has a hand in all of their destinies. Its a unique, larger-than-life, and high-concept series you have to see to believe.

Check out the official synopsis via Netflix:

"Zeus has long enjoyed his status as King of The Gods. That is until he wakes up one morning and discovers a wrinkle on his forehead. Neurosis sets in, setting him off on a dangerous, paranoid path. Zeus becomes convinced his fall is coming – and starts to see signs of it everywhere.

Zeus’ once reliable brother, Hades, God of the Underworld, is secretly losing his grip on his dark dominion. There is a backlog of dead waiting to be processed and they are growing restless. Hera (Janet McTeer), Queen of the Gods, exercises dominion on Earth — and over Zeus — in her own unique way. But her power and freedom become threatened by Zeus’ growing paranoia, and she is forced to act, while Zeus’ rebellious son, Dionysus, (Nabhaan Rizwan), is out of control and on course for a cosmic collision with his father.

On Earth people are aching for change, however Poseidon (Cliff Curtis), God of Sea, Storms and Earthquakes (and Horses) is more concerned with the size of his super-yacht and where the next party is at. The wellbeing of mere mortals is of little interest to him. Unfortunately for the Gods some of those mortals are beginning to realise this…

These mortals – Riddy (Aurora Perrineau), Orpheus (Killian Scott), Caneus (Misia Butler) and Ari (Leila Farzad) - come from different walks of life and are all cosmically connected in the battle against Zeus. Each one has a very different role to play, any one of them may be destined to bring down the Gods."

Jurassic Park favorite Goldblum will be joined by Academy Award and Emmy Award-nominated actress Janet McTeer, who plays Hera in the series. While McTeer has never starred in a Netflix original movie, she has previously appeared in two of the streamer's original series. She starred in 11 episodes of Marvel's Jessica Jones season 2 and appeared in a recurring role in Ozark.

The cast features plenty more familiar faces, including Cliff Curtis, David Thewlis, Debi Mazar, Aurora Perrineau, and more. For fans of Greek mythology who watch the show, KAOS will have an extra interesting layer of putting names to faces and finding out how they're being portrayed and what that means to the story. We probably haven't seen the gods portrayed quite like this.

Here's who you will see in the cast of KAOS:

• Jeff Goldblum as Zeus
• Janet McTeer as Hera
• Cliff Curtis as Poseidon
• David Thewlis as Hades
• Killian Scott as Orpheus
• Debi Mazar as Medusa
• Stephen Dillane as Prometheus
• Aurora Perrineau as Riddy/Eurydice
• Misia Butler as Caneus
• Leila Farzad as Ari
• Nabhaan Rizwan as Dionysus
• Rakie Ayola as Persephone
• Stanley Townsend as Minos
• Billie Piper as Cassandra
• Suzy Eddie Izzard as Lachy/Lachesis

Now, the official trailer for KAOS is kind of just that: chaos. It's admittedly hard to follow and pick up on exactly what the show will be about, but it's an insight to the artistic and multi-dimensional tone of the show. You might not be immediately hooked by the trailer, or maybe the vague approach to the show's trailer will hook you more than a typical cut-and-dry trailer would. It's a bunch of colorful or black and white clips that don't appear to connect, but you know that they will all add up to an exciting, endlessly entertaining eight-episode series.

Watch the trailer in the video below!

Watch KAOS only on Netflix beginning Aug. 29!