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Netflix is adapting Roald Dahl’s short stories into a drama series starring Nicola Coughlan, Naomi Scott, Dominic West, Imelda Staunton and more, continuing its foray into the author’s intellectual property after acquiring
the Roald Dahl Story Company in 2021.
Though Dahl is best known for his children’s books — such as “Matilda,” on which Netflix based a musical, and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” the basis of both an upcoming animated film and a reality competition series — the new drama is based on his work written for adults.
The official logline reads, “A young couple, marooned in a faded seaside town, navigate conmen, adulterers, murderous mothers and snake charmers as they attempt to escape before their own fate is sealed.” The series is written by Danny Brocklehurst, best known for writing Netflix’s popular Harlan Coben series “Fool Me Once.”
Along with Coughlan (“Bridgerton,” “Derry Girls”), Scott (“Smile 2,” “Aladdin”), West (“The Wire,” “The Crown”) and Staunton (“The Crown,” “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”), the cast of the new series includes Josh Finan (“Say Nothing”), Toby Jones (“MobLand”), Carmen Ejogo (“The Penguin”), Christine Tremarco (“Adolescence”), Michael Socha (“The Cage”) and Clarke Peters (“The Wire”).
Brocklehurst executive produces the series alongside Gabriel Silver and Suzanne Mackie for Orchid Pictures, while Sarah Lewis serves as producer. Runyararo Mapfumo and Ben Gregor serve as episodic directors.
“The short stories of Roald Dahl were what first made me want to become a writer,” Brocklehurst said in a statement. “His enthralling, macabre and always unexpected tales gave life to vibrant, larger than life characters like The Landlady, Mister Boggis and the mysterious Fingersmith. To be given the chance to bring these characters to life in a contemporary setting is a dream come true. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be partnering with Orchid Pictures, Netflix and this outstanding cast.”
