David Oyelowo and Gugu Mbatha-Raw have signed on to star in a four-episode limited series titled The Girl Before. The show is being developed for HBO Max, and is based on JP Delaney‘s bestselling book of the same name.
The Girl Before is a psychological thriller that follows Jane, who gets the chance to move into a beautiful, ultra-minimalist house designed by a mysterious architect. But there’s a catch: she’ll have to abide by his list of stringent rules.
Jane soon starts to feel the house changing her in unexpected ways, before making the shocking discovery that her predecessor died in the house, forcing her to confront unnerving similarities. The two women’s timelines begin to interweave, and Jane begins to question if her fate will be the same as the girl before.
Lisa Brühlmann (Killing Eve) will direct the series, which is a co-production between HBO Max and BBC One. Delaney’s novel has sold more than one million copies worldwide since its 2016 publication, so this should be a popular adaptation.
“This story is mind bending in its clever construction and intricacy. I can’t wait to see it, let alone be in it”, said Oyelowo in a statement. Brühlmann added: “Can our surroundings, like a special house, affect who we are, even change us? The ability to change our beliefs and our character is highly fascinating to me. I can’t wait to bring this female-driven thriller to life”.
These kinds of thrillers are always in vogue, so expect The Girl Before to be much talked about when it eventually arrives. Oyelowo and Mbatha-Raw have actually shared the screen before, although that was in forgettable ensemble The Cloverfield Paradox. This will likely leave much more of an impression on people.
Mbatha-Raw will next be seen alongside Tom Hiddleston in the Disney+ series Loki, while she’s also on board to star in the limited series Surface for Apple TV+, which boasts Reese Witherspoon as a producer.
Oyelowo recently made his directorial debut with The Water Man, which will be released day-and-date in U.S. cinemas and PVOD on Friday, May 7. On screen, he’ll next be seen alongside Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley in Chaos Walking, and he’s currently filming an untitled murder mystery with Saoirse Ronan and Sam Rockwell.
#Peace.Love.TheGirlBefore
