Between the in-depth analysis of the Cornell chain and the non-stop chatter about the bedroom scenes , the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney's Normal People book was an instant success around the world. So when it was announced that the BBC would be adapting another of her works, fans were understandably eager to find out more. The new Conversations with Friends series has recently been officially revealed for the first time, telling the complicated love story between exes and best friends Frances and Bobby from the 2017 novel, as well as their complicated relationship with married couple Melissa and Nick Relationship. Here's everything we know so far.
Talk to Friends release date
During the Normal People reunion Q&A, Lenny Abrahamson (director of Normal People and Conversations with Friends) revealed that filming began as early as April 2021. At the time, the director wasn't entirely sure when the show would air.
However, it was subsequently announced that Conversations with Friends will be broadcast on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer on 15 May 2022. Along with confirming the release date, BBC Three also shared a sneak peek of the new series, which includes some of the show's central characters interacting for the first time.
In a preview video released in December 2021, the BBC revealed that Conversations with Friends is one of its many new programs to be broadcast in 2022. The BBC has also released the first look of Alison Oliver as Frances to spark more excitement for the upcoming series. Unsurprisingly, the first look at the photos has fans desperate for more information about the show.
Is "Conversations with Friends" a sequel to "Normal People" ?
No, but it does continue the theme of young people dealing with adult relationships. Rooney's debut novel is set in Dublin and follows the lives of students Frances and Bobby. Smart, bold, and sensitive, they walk the line between ex and best friend. But after they meet a mysterious couple, Melissa and Nick, their relationship is put under a strict microscope.
Frances and Bobby enter a world of publishing parties, secret affairs, and emotional manipulation, and soon they find themselves in a situation that may be too much to bear. Rooney discussed topics like feminism, class, and growing up in "Normal People ," and "Conversations with Friends" touches on much of the same ground.
However, while Conversations with Friends is not a continuation of the story of Normal People , the two series are "cousins" according to executive producer Ed Guiney, who told The Irish Times: "Although They are cousins, and with Sally, Lenny and Element, we wanted to make sure that Conversations With Friends had its own unique twist..."
"We ended up with something that has aesthetic similarities to other collections but is definitely its own thing," Abrahamson told Vanity Fair .
Still, Abrahamson is open to the idea of some kind of crossover. During a March 2021 reunion Q&A, when asked if the two shows would take place in the same universe and if Marianne would be somewhere in the background, the director said, "Yes, That's perfect! Cornell is probably the sullen boy in the background, licking his pencil. Now let's say, that's gold!"
Conversations with Friends cast
The cast for Conversations With Friends was finally revealed in February, and it includes a mix of newcomers and familiar faces. According to the BBC, Frances will be played by Alison Oliver, who attended the same drama school as Paul Mescal. Sasha Lane plays Bobbi, who you'll recognize from American Honey and the US remake of Channel 4's Utopia .
As for Melissa and Nick, they will be played by Jemima Kirke and Joe Alwyn. Kirk plays Jessa on Girls (and most recently played the new principal in a British teen drama on Netflix ), and Alvin is known for her roles in the 2019 adaptation of A Christmas Carol and The Favorite , as well as Taylor Swift's Swift's boyfriend.
Talk to friends trailer
Much to the delight of Sally Rooney fans, BBC Three released a trailer for the Irish drama in February, while Hulu released an extended trailer in April.
