“The Blacklist” is getting more animated for its Season 7 finale.
Due to the coronavirus-related production shutdown on the New York-filmed thriller, the series has pulled together a hybrid live-action and animated season-ender, which will air at 8 p.m. Friday, May 15, on NBC.
While shooting the season’s 19th episode, titled “The Kazanjian Brothers,” production was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Producers decided “to do something out of the box” to close out the season, adding “graphic novel-style animation” to complement scenes that were already filmed, according to a press release.
Cast members — including James Spader, who plays Raymond “Red” Reddington, and Megan Boone, who portrays Elizabeth Keen — recorded dialogue from their homes. Animators and editors finished the work remotely.
The episode’s official synopsis states: “The Task Force investigates an accountant who works for lucrative criminals in order to find the violent and thuggish brothers hired for his protection. Liz must make a momentous decision. Presented in a unique hybrid of live-action and graphic novel-style animation.”
The series, which was renewed for an eighth season in February, will air its 150th episode at 8 p.m. Friday, May 8.
“The Blacklist” also stars Diego Klattenhoff, Amir Arison, Hisham Tawfiq and Harry Lennix.
