Alexis Bledel and Fisher Stevens Team for New Podcast 'Avenger' Based on Riveting True Story (Exclusive)

Bledel stars as an Argentine journalist determined to avenge the victims of the "death flights," which saw thousands of Argentines thrown from planes alive

lexis Bledel and Fisher Stevens Team for New Podcast 'Avenger' Based on Riveting True Story
Alexis Bledel and Fisher Stevens teamed up for a new podcast series, 'Avenger,' based on true events. Photo:

Kevin Mazur/Getty; Gotham/FilmMagic

Alexis Bledel is taking her talents to the podcast world.

PEOPLE can exclusively reveal that the Gilmore Girls star, 42, has teamed up with actor and director Fisher Stevens for Avenger, a new audio documentary series from Orbit Media.

Under the direction of Stevens, 59, Bledel portrays Miriam Lewin, an Argentine journalist who "hunts down the pilots of the 'death flights' which killed tens of thousands of Argentines and brings them to justice," according to a release.

The story, based on true events, is set in Buenos Aires and kicks off with teenage activist Miriam being kidnapped off the street by the military junta and detained in a concentration camp in 1978. Thousands of her fellow inmates are later brutally thrown out of planes alive amid the country's Dirty War. After her release, Miriam becomes a journalist and makes it her mission to find the pilots of the flights and avenge the victims.

The podcast is based on interviews in Spanish, which were translated and voiced by the actors.

Latinos_AlexisBledel.jpg
Alexis Bledel. Getty Images

Bledel, whose father is Argentine, was interested in exploring projects that would give her an opportunity to be part of telling stories about her heritage, per the release. She met and talked with the real Miriam for hours before accepting the role.

“I was honored to play Miriam Lewin, who had a significant role in changing the course of her country's history," she said in a statement. "My father is Argentine, and I grew up speaking Spanish at home. This podcast allowed me to better understand a crucial and harrowing chapter of Argentine history that I was aware of growing up.”

“Working with Fisher Stevens was a delight," continued Bledel, who recorded the podcast episodes this past spring. "He was very connected to the raw emotional truth of the story and guided me to create a compelling and nuanced portrayal of Miriam's experience.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Stevens, who directed Palmer and executive produced the hit series Tiger King, makes his first foray into podcast directing with Avenger. “It’s rare to get a story that is both so compelling and so triumphant, and to find the perfect actor to bring it to life," he said in his own statement. "I loved working with Alexis. She brought depth and complexity to the character of Miriam.“

Orbit Media's president, Steven Fishman, praised Bledel for expertly capturing the emotional heart of the tragic story.

“We knew this story would make a great podcast. The story is emotional, horrifying, and satisfying. And the woman in the center of it all, who won’t give up, is as compelling as you get," he said. "Alexis brought just the right touch. She brought out the sadness and the joy, and the emotional complexities of a crusader.”

The Avenger podcast marks Bledel's first major project announcement since she exited The Handmaid's Tale after the Hulu dystopian series' fourth season. She had portrayed the character of Emily/Ofglen since the show's debut in 2017.

A release date for Avenger has not been announced yet.

Related Articles