Following the success of Big Little Lies, Nicole Kidman and writer David E. Kelley are returning to HBO with a new limited series, The Undoing, in fall 2020. Also starring Hugh Grant and directed by Susanne Bier (Bird Box), The Undoing is based on the 2014 novel You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz. The six-episode psychological thriller mines the sordid secrets of an upper-crust New York City family whose life is turned upside down by a mysterious death.
Here’s everything we know so far about The Undoing, including the plot details, casting information, release date and more.
Plot
The Undoing follows Grace Fraser (Kidman), a successful New York City therapist on the verge of publishing her first book. Grant plays her seemingly perfect husband Jonathan, a celebrated pediatric oncologist and devoted father to the couple’s young son (Noah Jupe), who attends a prestigious NYC private school.
However, Grace’s charmed life is thrown into disarray following a violent death and the disappearance of her husband. As a series of startling revelations come to the surface in the wake of this very public tragedy, Grace is forced to face the truth about her own existence and forge a new life for herself and her child.
Much like Big Little Lies, also starring Kidman and written by Kelley, The Undoing sets its focus on a strong yet complicated woman and the hidden dangers presented by the men in her life.
Cast and Crew
Following the formula of its other prestige dramas like Big Little Lies, Westworld and Watchmen, HBO has tapped Hollywood A-listers Kidman and Grant to star in the series. Rising young talent Jupe (Ford v Ferrari) adds another prominent role to his quickly growing resume as the couple’s adolescent son. Veteran actor Donald Sutherland also appears as Grace’s father, a retired financier. Edgar Ramirez, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Matilda De Angelis, Lily Rabe, Michael Devine, Edan Alexander and Noma Dumezweni round out the cast of supporting characters.
Kidman also receives an executive producer credit on the limited series alongside writer and showrunner Kelley. Along with Kelley, Jean Hanff Korelitz is a writer, and Bier directs all six episodes.
Trailer
The first look at The Undoing is scant on details, but it offers a glimpse into the Frasers’ exclusive world of posh high-rise lounges, stately brownstones and high-thread-count bed linens. However, voice over narration gives insight into the dark underbelly of the elite, saying, "They conceal the ugly truths to protect themselves." A flurry of police helicopters, ravenous reporters and mysterious pools of blood confirms that all is not as it seems.
On March 26, HBO released a second teaser, offering a few more plot specifics, including the knowledge that a mother was bludgeoned to death. Grace is also grilled by detectives and her husband, suggesting a suspiciously close connection to the crime. The trailer leaves viewers with the final, bleak warning: "Whatever you’ve heard, it’s worse than you think."
Release Date
The Undoing was originally slated to premiere on May 10; however, HBO pushed the release to the fall five weeks ahead of its scheduled debut. The limited series is now set to premiere on HBO on October 25.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.