HBO Max and BBC One will co-produce a limited series based on JP Delaney’s bestselling book The Girl Before. Gugu Mbatha-Raw (The Morning Show, Doctor Who) and David Oyelowo (Selma, Star Wars Rebels) will star.
The Girl Before tells the story of Jane (Mbatha-Raw), who gets the chance to move into a beautiful, ultra-minimalist house designed by an enigmatic architect (Oyelowo). There’s just one catch: occupants have to abide by his list of exacting rules. Jane starts to feel the house changing her in unexpected ways. But when she makes the shocking discovery that her predecessor Emma died in the house, she’s forced to confront unnerving similarities. As the two women’s timelines interweave, Jane begins to question if her fate will be the same as the girl before.
“This story is mind bending in its clever construction and intricacy. I can’t wait to see it, let alone be in it. Plus, I’d go anywhere to work with my friend Gugu again,” said Oyelowo of the psychological thriller.
The Emmy-nominated Lisa Brühlmann will direct the 4-episode series. Marissa Lestrade co-writes the series.
“I’m so excited to work with this amazing team on such a compelling story in my debut role as an actor and producer,” said Mbatha-Raw.
Delaney’s novel sold over a million copies since its publication in 2016.
“It’s long been a dream of mine to adapt The Girl Before, but I was determined to only do it if I could find partners who wanted to pursue high-quality, classy storytelling above all else. You really couldn’t get a more quality-focused line-up than 42, the BBC and HBO Max. And we’ve already attracted world-class talent in the shape of Lisa, Gugu and David,” said Delaney. “Psychological thrillers can be even more gripping on television than they would be as movies, and I’m incredibly excited to be re-telling this particular story in a visual medium.”
The Girl Before will stream on HBO Max in the US and air on BBC One in the UK.
Source: HBO Max
