Brie Larson is expected to star and executive produce the drama series “Lessons in Chemistry”, which landed a direct order for the series at Apple in a competitive situation, Variety learned exclusively.
Susannah Grant, who has already been nominated for an Oscar for writing the screenplay for “Erin Brockovich”, will write and will executive produce the series. Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan will also serve as executive producers under the banner of Aggregate Films, which currently produces shows like “Ozark” on Netflix, “The Outsider” on HBO and “A Teacher” on FX on Hulu. Apple Studios will produce.
The series is based on the next debut novel by author, science editor and copywriter Bonnie Garmus. Set in the early 1960s, “Lessons in Chemistry” follows Elizabeth Zott (Larson), whose dream of being a scientist is suspended in a society that considers women to be in the domestic sphere, not the professional sphere. When Elizabeth is pregnant, alone and fired from her laboratory, she brings together the ingenuity that only a single mother has. She takes a job as a host on a TV cooking show and begins teaching a nation of forgotten housewives – and men who are suddenly listening – much more than recipes, all the time longing for a return to her true self. love: science.
“Lessons in Chemistry” is scheduled to be published in the spring of 2022 by Doubleday. In the UK, it will be promoted by Transworld and has been sold in more than 35 countries to date.
This marks the second Apple series in which Larson will star. It was previously announced that she would star in a dramatic series on the streamer based on the real life experiences of CIA undercover agent Amaryllis Fox and her memoirs, “Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA”. This project was announced in March 2019, shortly after Larson’s debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in “Captain Marvel”. However, sources say the CIA project stopped at the writing stage and was further delayed by the pandemic COVID-19. Due to Larson’s filming schedule for “Captain Marvel 2”, the project is now on hold.
Apple’s programs represent some of the few television roles that Larson has played in his career. She has starred in shows like “United States of Tara” and “Raising Dad”. In addition to starring in “Captain Marvel”, Larson is known for her Oscar and Golden Globe winning role in the 2015 film “Room”. Her other major roles include “Kong: Skull Island”, “The Spectacular Now”, “21 Jump Street “and” Scott Pilgrim vs. the World “. She most recently appeared in the MCU film “Avengers: Endgame” and in the drama led by Michael B. Jordan “Just Mercy”. Next, she will star in “Captain Marvel 2”, which is scheduled to debut in 2022.
She is represented by WME, Authentic Talent & Literary Management, Rogers & Cowan PMK and Sloane Offer.
The book contract was signed by Luke Speed and Felicity Blunt from Curtis Brown. Aggregate movies is represented by CAA, Lighthouse Management and Shelter PR. Grant is represented by UTA, businessman Adam Berkowitz and Kleinberg Lange Cuddy & Carlo.