Fans of period dramas, rejoice! If you’ve been craving fresh adaptations rather than the same old stories, there’s exciting news for you. Sofia Coppola is taking on the challenge of adapting Edith Wharton’s classic novel, The Custom of the Country, into a new TV series for Apple TV Plus. This will be the first time the novel is being brought to the screen.
Sofia Coppola, known for her work on Lost in Translation, The Beguiled, and Marie Antoinette, will be both writing and directing the series. Though she has plenty of experience with period dramas, this marks her debut in episodic television. Given her track record, we can expect high quality from this new series.
The show is anticipated to be an episodic limited series, likely set in the early 1900s before World War I in New York. Coppola has expressed her enthusiasm for the project, particularly her appreciation for the novel’s main character, Undine Spragg.
While there isn’t an official synopsis for the series yet, the book tells the story of Undine Spragg, a social-climbing woman from the Midwest who moves to New York to seek her fortune. Published in 1913, this novel offers rich social and emotional detail and has yet to be adapted for screen, despite its significance.
Interestingly, Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey, has cited The Custom of the Country as a major influence on his work. He admires Wharton’s creation of Undine Spragg as a complex, morally ambiguous character that audiences can still root for despite her flaws.
Casting for the series has not been announced yet. However, some speculate that Florence Pugh, who shined in the role of Amy in Little Women, could be an excellent fit for the character of Undine.
The production is still in its early stages, so we might have to wait a while to see the series on our screens. However, the announcement is promising. It seems American entertainment is finally recognizing the value of limited period drama series based on classic novels, a genre that has seen great success in the British market.
What are your thoughts on this upcoming adaptation of The Custom of the Country? Who would you like to see in the lead roles? Share your opinions in the comments below.
