The Lying Life of Adults, the latest novel by the globally bestselling Italian novelist, Elena Ferrante (My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name), is being developed into a series by Netflix and Italy’s Fandango, The Guardian confirms. Often regarded as one of the world’s most read and beloved 21st century writers and as one of TIME Magazine’s most influential people in 2016, Netflix and Fandango are honored and privileged to give Ferrante’s novel life on the screen.
Felipe Tewes, Director of Local Language Original Series at Netflix, said in statement, “Elena Ferrante books have inspired and captivated audiences in Italy and around the world, and we are thrilled to bring her latest endeavor to the screens of our global audience.”
According to Variety and promotional materials provided by Europa Editions (When I Hit You, Shadowplay), the novel is “a portrayal of a young woman named Giovanna’s transition from childhood to adolescence in the 1990’s.” In this passage, she is inherently “searching for her true reflection in two kindred cities that fear and detest one another: the Naples of the heights, which assumes a mask of refinement, and the Naples of the depths, a place of excess and vulgarity…She moves between these two cities, disoriented by the fact that, whether high or low, neither city seems to offer answers or escape.”
The Lying Life of Adults is not the only novel of Ferrante’s that has been made into a series. Fandango, in tandem with Italian production company, Wildside, recently joined Italian broadcast company, Rai, and HBO on the series My Brilliant Friend, based on Ferrante’s trilogy, Neapolitan Novels. The second season of which recently premiered in the U.S., Variety says.
Fandango founder, Domenico Procacci, is nonetheless “very happy to continue telling the world of Elena Ferrante,” he commented. “’The Lying Life of Adults,’ published by our friends at E/O, tells another, close but different part of (the Neapolitan Novels) world.”
Netflix has expanded its production ventures in Italy where they have reportedly joined national motion picture organization, ANICA, and will soon have an Italian headquarters in central Rome.
While details on the release date and cast are yet to be revealed, Netflix released a teaser trailer with a few opening lines from the novel. The Lying Life of Adults novel will be launched in 25 countries on September 1 and will be published in English by Europa Editions U.S. and U.K., Variety mentions.