Netflix has announced several new commissions, including a series adaptation of Marian Keyes’ novel Grown Ups, Jamie Dornan-led series The Undertow, and House of Guinness from Peaky Blinders showrunner Steven Knight.
Netflix will bring Marian Keyes’ best selling novel Grown Ups to the screen as an ensemble family drama, following three couples, Nell and Liam, Cara and Ed, Jessie and Rory. Casting is yet to be announced. Sam Strauss will produce for See Saw Films.
“I screamed when I got this news!” said Marian Keyes. “It’s thrilling that See-Saw and Netflix are bringing Grown Ups to the screen – they’ve already brought me so much pleasure as a viewer. Samantha Strauss really ‘gets’ the dynamics of the book and I’ve loved the treatment and scripts that I’ve seen. Honest to God, I’m overjoyed.”
Liz Watts, Helen Gregory, Emile Sherman and Iain Canning are executive producing for See Saw films, and Strauss, Louise Gough, and Marian Keyes will also executive produce. Simon Gillis will be co-Executive Producer.
Netflix has also announced a new crime noir series The Undertow, which will go into production in 2024. Jamie Dornan will play the roles of identical twins, Adam and Lee, whilst Mackenzie Davis will play Adam’s wife Nicola.
The series is based on the Nordisk Film Production AS television series Twin, created by Kristoffer Metcalfe. The adaptation will be produced by Complete Fiction and wiip. Production will start on The Scottish Highlands and Islands in 2024.
The Undertow is written by Scout Cripps, Sarah Dollard, Hanna Jameson, and Kam Odedra, and Jeremy Lovering and Theo Park are directing. Nira Park is producing, with Lovering and Jamie Ballard executive producing.
Written by Steven Knight and commissioned for Netflix from Kudos, House of Guinness (working title) will tell the story of The Guinness Family. Set in 19th-century Dublin and New York, the story will focus on the consequences of the death of Benjamin Guinness, the man responsible for the success of the Guinness brewery, and his impact of his four adult children, Arthur, Edward, Anne, and Ben, as well as on a group of Dublin characters who work and interact with the growing juggernaut that is Guinness.
Steven Knight, writer, executive producer, and creator said: “The Guinness dynasty is known the world over - wealth, poverty, power, influence, and great tragedy are all intertwined to create a rich tapestry of material to draw from. I’ve always been fascinated by their stories and am excited to bring the characters to life for the world to see.”
Tom Shankland and Mounia Akl will direct the series.
