Claire Foy and Matthew Macfadyen. (Photos courtesy of Starz)
STARZ and BBC have ordered YOU ARE HERE, based on David Nicholls’ novel of the same name.
The series “is about finding a connection when you least expect it and overcoming the obstacles of midlife. Treading the tricky path from loneliness to love, Marnie and Michael go coast-to-coast across the stunning (and sometimes soaking) English countryside, navigating an undeniable attraction that is as exhilarating as it is terrifying.”
Matthew Macfadyen and Claire Foy will star as Michael and Marnie; the duo will also both executive produce the series. According to Starz, “When a mutual friend throws them together, Marnie and Michael unexpectedly find themselves setting off on an epic walk. Against the odds, they end up on the brink of a relationship that neither was looking for, but which might be exactly the one they both need.”
Nicholls has written the eight-part adaptation, which will be directed by Lenny Abrahamson.
“YOU ARE HERE is disarming, sly and deeply romantic,” said Kathryn Busby, President of Original Programming, STARZ, in a statement. “It captures something true and aching about the way we love now. Together with our partners at the BBC, we are thrilled to be working with the dream team of David, Lenny, Claire, Matthew and Element Pictures to bring this beautiful love story to life. It’s a perfect fit for our STARZ audience.”
“I’m so delighted to be working on YOU ARE HERE with Element, the BBC, STARZ and Lenny, whose work I’ve admired for many years,” Nicholls added. “And Matthew and Claire are both just dream casting, wonderful in comedy and drama, so detailed and thoughtful and sympathetic. The intention with the novel was to write a close-up study of a relationship, but set against this magnificent landscape, and that’s our ambition here too; to make something both intimate and epic, funny and dramatic, a romantic comedy with real emotion. We can’t wait to bring Marnie and Michael’s journey to the screen.”
“As a huge admirer of David’s writing, I’m delighted to be collaborating with him to bring YOU ARE HERE to the screen,” Abrahamson said. “The novel is such a beautiful love story – funny, profound and ultimately deeply hopeful. I’m also extremely excited to have Claire and Matthew, two actors I hugely admire, playing Michael and Marnie.”
“We are so delighted to be collaborating with David Nicholls and Lenny Abrahamson – two of the most talented creators working today – on the television adaptation of David’s gorgeous book, backed by the brilliant teams at BBC Drama and STARZ,” Ed Guiney, executive producer, Element Pictures, said. “We’re also very excited to be working with our absolute dream cast in Matthew and Claire. YOU ARE HERE feels to us like a drama the world needs right now – life affirming, positive, funny and full of charm.”
“Like countless others, I loved this book, packed full of charm, humor, heartache and joy,” said Lindsay Salt, BBC Director of Drama. “The combination of David’s wonderful scripts, Lenny back directing on the BBC, Element Pictures producing, and Claire and Mathew leading our cast is a real gift. I can’t wait for Marnie and Michael to spring off the page and onto the screen. BBC viewers are in for a treat.”
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