HBO Max And BBC One will partner to produce the limited series The Girl Before.
The 4-episode psychological thriller, based on the JP Delaney’s bestselling book of the same name stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw (The Morning Show, Misbehaviour) and Golden Globe and Emmy nominee David Oyelowo (Selma, Les Misérables).
Lisa Brühlmann (Killing Eve, Servant) is set to direct.
The Girl Before tells the story of Jane (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), who gets the chance to move into a beautiful, ultra-minimalist house designed by an enigmatic architect (David 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…
“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 Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
“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.” added David Oyelowo.
Speaking of the upcoming adaptation, JP Delaney said: “Having written for the screen in a previous career, 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. 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. It’s also been great fun to collaborate on episodes two and three with a brilliant co-writer, Marissa Lestrade.”
A global bestseller, The Girl Before has sold over one million copies since its publication in 2016. It is published by Quercus in the UK and Ballantine in the U.S.
