Sally Hepworth is known for her heart-racing, chilling psychological thrillers, from The Good Sister, about a sister who is anything but, to The Mother-in-Law about a wealthy, cold matriarch who ends up dead. Now comes news that Helpworth’s latest book, Darling Girls, will be made into a TV show. The announcement came on Tuesday, October 22, via Deadline. Keep reading to discover all you need to know about the upcoming adaptation.
What we know so far about the ‘Darling Girls’ TV show
The Darling Girls TV show has been optioned to Bruna Papandrea‘s Made Up Stories. The same company has turned other books, including Nine Perfect Strangers, The Undoing and The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, into television series.
“I’m not known for being able to keep a secret … so I’m THRILLED that this one is finally out of the bag,” wrote Hepworth in an Instagram post.
“I’m thrilled to be working with Bruna, Steve and Made Up Stories to adapt Darling Girls for series,” Hepworth told Deadline. “I’ve long admired their dynamic filmmaking and their passion for telling women’s stories, so I feel unbelievably lucky to partner with them to bring this particular story to life—one that examines three uniquely complex women at the center of a murder investigation and the team of detectives who grossly underestimate their unbreakable bond of sisterhood.”
Who else is involved in the ‘Darling Girls’ TV show?
Irish screenwriter Orlagh Collins will join the production team as executive producer and showrunner. Papandrea, her husband Steven Hutensky and Katie Amos from the Made Up Stories Team will also join as executive producers. Finally, Hepworth and Rob Weisbach round out the show’s executive producers.
“We love making compelling thrillers at Made Up Stories with complex women at the center,” said Made Up Stories management in a statement. “Sally’s brilliant book has four of them and, paired with Orlagh Collins’ adaptation, we’ve been left breathless.”
No details about the cast, air date or where you can watch have been announced at this time.
The plot of ‘Darling Girls’: A thriller about secrets, sisters and murder
Originally published in April 2024, this crime novel is billed as a thriller about sisterhood, secrets, and murder. The plot follows Jessica, Norah, and Alicia, who are taken in by a foster mom, Miss Fairchild. They think they’ll finally have a good family life—but Miss Fairchild’s rules are suffocating, she’s unpredictable and you can’t even think about crossing her.
Eventually, the girls break away from her clutches, but that doesn’t mean they’re free. Even though they never saw Miss Fairchild again, they are all haunted by memories of life with her. And when a body is discovered under the home they grew up in years later, the women return to the house to discover the truth.
Sally Hepworth’s ‘The Mother-in-Law’ could also get a TV adaptation
NBC gave Hepworth’s novel The Mother-in-Law a “put pilot” in 2019. Amy Poehler was set to be an executive producer, and Universal Television was the studio for the adaptation. A put pilot means that the network has agreed to air the pilot, but there’s no guarantee that the project will continue after that.
The book was also released in 2019, but there is no news on the episode or casting details. Fingers crossed, Hepworth’s adaptations make it to the screen. In the meantime, you can check out more of her twisty titles and what she’s working on next.
