Everything we know so far about BBC's Normal People, adapted from Sally Rooney's hit novel
Irish author Sally Rooney’s novel Normal People will be hitting our screens soon, and we can’t wait to see it come to life.
The TV adaptation will be available on BBC One, with Alice Birch and Mark O’Rowe working with Rooney on the script.
Because of her relatable characters and the way she articulates feelings of uncertainty and displacement, the 28-year-old has been hailed ‘the voice of a generation’.
Because of this, it’s no surprise fans everywhere are gearing up to binge-watch as soon as the programme arrives. Filming has only just begun, but we’ll patiently wait for the release date.
If you haven’t got round to reading it yet, here’s some information about the novel that will hopefully whet your appetite and have you just as excited as we are for the upcoming adaptation.
What isNormal Peopleabout?
Rooney’s second novel follows Marianne and Connell, who begin an unlikely friendship in a small town in Ireland. Their friendship begins at school and carries on to adulthood, where the reader then follows them to University. Connell is well-liked and popular whereas Marianne is usually lonely and proud, making for an interesting dynamic.
Has Normal People won any awards?
The novel has seen critical acclaim, winning the Costa Novel Award in 2018 and being long listed for Man Booker Prize 2018 , Dylan Thomas Prize 2019, and Women’s Prize for Fiction 2019. It’s even been Waterstones Fiction Book of the Month for May 2019.
Who's starring in Normal People, the TV series?
Daisy Edgar Jones is taking on the central role of Marianne. She is previously known for her work on War of the Worlds and Cold Feet, so we’re eager to see her portrayal in this series.
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Paul Mescal will be alongside her as Connell, which will be his first television role.
How long will the series be?
The TV series will be 12 episodes running at 30 minutes each, so we’ll be given plenty of time to explore these two characters and the adventures they get up to.
Who's directingNormal People?
It will be directed by Lenny Abrahamson, known for his work on feature films Frank (2014) and Room (2015).He’ll be working with Hettie McDonald, known for the 2017 adaptation of Howard’s End which starred Hayley Atwell. So there’s some real talent both in front of and behind the camera.
In a statement, Abrahamson said, "It’s incredibly exciting to be bringing Sally Rooney’s extraordinary novel to the screen with such a brilliant cast and crew. In Daisy Edgar Jones and Paul Mescal, I feel I have found two young actors who can vividly capture Marianne and Connell and bring alive the profound and beautiful relationship at the centre of the story."
While we’re not sure of an exact release date, all of this information is promising stuff. Will you be watching?
Lucy Buglass is a Digital Writer specialising in TV, film and lifestyle content and has written for What's On TV, GoodtoKnow and Whattowatch.com. She's passionate about entertainment and spends most of her free time watching Netflix series, BBC dramas, or going to the cinema to catch the latest film releases. In her spare time, she writes film and television reviews for JumpCut Online and her own blog, Lucy Goes To Hollywood.
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