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Be Very, Very Afraid of Ellen Barkin in This Animal Kingdom Premiere Sneak Peek

Exclusive: Watch a sneak peek of TNT's tense new drama

By Jean Bentley Jun 14, 2016 4:00 PMTags

You should be very, very afraid of Ellen Barkin in her new TNT drama, Animal Kingdom.

The leading lady plays Janine "Smurf" Cody, matriarch of a Southern California crime family who takes in her estranged grandson when his mother dies of a drug overdose. Joshua "J" Cody (Finn Cole) knows his family's involved in some shady business, but he isn't quite sure what.

In E! News' exclusive sneak peek at the series premiere, which airs tonight at 9 p.m. on TNT, watch Smurf explain just how imperative it is that J keep his damn mouth shut and help his uncles with the family business (which, to be ultra clear, is crime).

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Scott Speedman Was Told to Put His Shirt on for Animal Kingdom, Which Is Just Absurd
TNT

And despite the show's penchant for getting all of its sexy leading men to take their shirts off as much as possible—after all, this show does take place in a beach community, so it sort of makes sense—this particular clip has no shiftlessness whatsoever. (We just wanted to warn you so you wouldn't get your hopes up.)

Animal Kingdom is based on the 2010 Australian movie of the same name (in which Jacki Weaver played Smurf), and also stars Scott Speedman as adopted eldest son Barry "Baz" Brown, Shawn Hatosy as the creepy, just-released from jail Andrew "Pope" Cody (who also happens to be J's mom's twin sister), Ben Robson as Craig Cody, Jake Weary as Deran Cody, Daniella Alonso as Baz's girlfriend, Catherine, and Molly Gordon as Nicky, J's girlfriend.

Animal Kingdom airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on TNT.

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