The next big Sally Rooney project is officially on its way.
Hulu just dropped the extended trailer for their upcoming series, "Conversations With Friends," based on the 2017 Rooney novel of the same title. The series will feature twelve episodes and is helmed by the same creative team as "Normal People," Rooney's other famous work adapted to the screen.
The show follows Trinity College student Frances (Alison Oliver, in her debut performance) as she embarks on an affair with a married actor, Nick (Joe Alwyn). The series also stars Sasha Lane and Jemima Kirke, and follows the cast all the way from University in Dublin to vacation in Croatia. Director Lenny Abrahamson describes it by saying,
“'Conversations' is really a coming-of-age story centering on Frances, who is trying to figure herself out. It’s prepared to challenge the viewer’s own sense of what is good or right in various situations.”
A theme heavily present in the trailer, as Frances asks Nick,
“Who knows what happens between two people when they’re alone?”
But just how similar is "Conversations" to "Normal People"? Abrahamson says the new series will be much "messier," elaborating,
“The moods of the two shows definitely overlap in places, but 'Conversations' is a little bit messier than 'Normal People'. The relationships are messier, and there are more of them. Frances is such a particular person — sometimes glorious, sometimes deeply frustrating with a tendency to hide herself.”
The trailer also debuted a new Phoebe Bridgers song, “Sidelines.” Bridgers was an outspoken fan of "Normal People" when it premiered in the Spring of 2020 and is even currently dating Connell actor, Paul Mescal.
"Conversations With Friends" premieres on Hulu May 15, as well as BBC Three.