It appears that the small screen fits Nicole Kidman well. Not only is the Academy Award winning starlet set to appear in upcoming HBO drama Big Little Lies based on a bestseller by Liane Moriarty, MSN Entertainment reports the starlet has also purchased rights to another bestselling novel. The book, The Expatriates by Janice YK Lee, will be produced by, and possibly star, Kidman.
It’s not Kidman’s first foray into producing. Her production company, Blossom Films, has had relative success with films such as Monte Carlo and Rabbit Hole (also starring Kidman), both of which are adapted from literature. However, The Expatriates will be their first shot in the world of television. The novel, following the life of three American women who find themselves caught up in the world of Hong Kong’s expatriate culture, paints a vivid picture of the city’s “veritable U.N. of fortune-seekers.” Though some would consider a film based on the novel to be a proper idea due to Kidman’s resume, a television series’ serialization and ability to insert extended nuances is a far better route for as expansive a topic and city as Hong Kong.
Not much is clear regarding casting, crew, distribution, or even what network the series will be a part of. It has been rumored that Blossom Films and Kidman are considering premium networks. Depending on the success of her upcoming HBO series, that doesn’t seem like such a stretch. The network is renowned for their loyalty to actors who have done bang up jobs (think Ian McShane in Deadwood and his impressive Game of Thrones guest spot.) Netflix is also a well-established source for viewers seeking entertainment with enlightening undertones.
Kidman’s run of literary adaptations on television is in full swing. Big Little Lies has been critically acclaimed for its perspective on domestic violence and the lasting effects of trauma. Kidman will play one of three mothers who become close through their children, eventually peeling back the events that shaped them as people and how it impacts their current lives. Moriarty, an advocate against domestic violence, used the experiences of real women to shape the bestseller’s narrative and message.
Big Little Lies will be released on HBO February 19th. Stay tuned with mxdwn for further information regarding news about Kidman’s The Expatriates project and her upcoming HBO series.