Max has just teased a new crime drama, Duster, starring Josh Holloway as a getaway driver in 1972. This series, from J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, embraces its ’70s grindhouse influences and promises a thrilling mix of grit and style. It follows Holloway’s character, entangled in a conflict between a crime syndicate and law enforcement, with a determined young agent (Rachel Hilson) aiming to take his crime family down. Blending elements reminiscent of Justified and Reservoir Dogs, Duster offers not just action but also meaningful character development, especially with Hilson’s tough portrayal. The show debuts on May 15.
Ladies and gentlemen, let’s give a round of applause for Max. It feels like forever since we enjoyed a crime drama from one of the major streaming platforms that doesn’t take itself too seriously — rather than bombarding us with relentless trauma, bloodshed, and tortured antiheroes. That’s why I, for one, am thrilled that HBO’s streaming service has just unveiled a new vibrant thriller steeped in ’70s flair: Duster, featuring Lost’s Josh Holloway as a rugged getaway driver.
Based on the trailer just released by Max (which you can view below), this new series from J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan confidently showcases its grindhouse influences. Duster seems to luxuriate in them, resembling a crime saga that might have emerged from a dusty film reel tucked away in an old muscle car — and I genuinely mean that in the most complimentary way.
Set in the American Southwest in 1972, Duster follows Holloway’s formidable wheelman who becomes embroiled in a conflict between a burgeoning crime syndicate and the law. Holloway’s character, with a penchant for the Plymouth Duster, embodies grit and gasoline: part wry outlaw, part desperate survivor. He strikes fast, strikes hard, and somehow survives to fight another day. (His words, not ours.) It all creates a show that Quentin Tarantino might enjoy — so steeped in retro chaos that you can almost hear the vinyl crackle just before the action begins.
Launching on May 15, Max outlines that the show “explores the life of a daring getaway driver for a burgeoning crime syndicate that becomes dangerously chaotic when a determined young agent (Rachel Hilson) arrives in town, hellbent on dismantling his criminal family.”
From what I’ve seen thus far, the series feels like Justified colliding with Reservoir Dogs, laden with raw, gritty realism and infused with abundance of flair. This is due to everything from the show’s classic cars to the sun-bleached motel signs, seedy bars, and gunfights crafted for pure television enjoyment.
Duster is also more than just action and style. There’s substantial character development at play — particularly in the depiction of Hilson’s Nina, a tough-as-nails persona inspired in part by the first Black woman to become a special agent in the FBI. The dynamic between the two leads promises to be chaotic and exciting, and I can already sense it’s going to be an exhilarating experience watching them navigate trouble with flair, confidence, and just a hint of hope.