David E. Kelley, the screenwriter for BIG LITTLE LIES, is now writing THE UNDOING with Nicole Kidman targeted to star. They seemed to do alright for themselves in the Liane Moriarity piece, so why not? Well, then there was that comment from Drama VP Francesca Orsi that said that “HBO was raped” by the salary demands of BLL’s actors. She later apologized and just like that this news drops. Read into that what you want, but it is interesting.
So, THE UNDOING is an adaptation of a Jean Hanff Korelitz’s book entitled “You Should Have Known.” It centers on Grace Sachs (Kidman), who is living the only life she ever wanted for herself. She’s a successful therapist on the brink of publishing her first book, has a devoted husband and young son who attends an elite private school in New York City. Weeks before her book is published, a chasm opens in her life: a violent death, a missing husband, and, in the place of a man Grace thought she knew, only a chain of terrible revelations. Left behind in the wake of a spreading and very public disaster, and horrified by the ways in which she has failed to heed her own advice, Grace must dismantle one life and create another for her child and herself.
I’m not sure why this piece stands out as a project that needs to be done upon the completion of BIG LITTLE LIES Season two, but we’ll take it. The three top entities in this project weighed in with the following quotes:
Casy Bloys, president of HBP programming says – “We’re thrilled to continue our creative relationships with both Nicole and David and can’t wait to bring this show to life.”
Nicole Kidman says – “David has created another propulsive series with a fascinating, complicated female role at its center. I’m excited and honored to continue collaborating with HBO and David E Kelley.”
David E. Kelley says – “I loved this book. A character-driven psychological thriller, I’m excited about the adaptation and thrilled to be able to do it with Nicole and HBO.”
It remains to be seen whether we’ll be thrilled, but we’ll look for it.
(Source: Deadline)
