Normal People, the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s bestselling novel, was a cultural staple of the first UK lockdown, as people flocked in droves to their screens with nothing better to do. It spawned hundreds of tweets, memes, and articles, making stars out of its lead couple, Connell (Paul Mescal) and Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones).
Although lockdown restrictions are laxer than they were this time last year, one constant remains: another Sally Rooney TV adaptation to look forward to, as Conversations With Friends began filming last week in Northern Ireland.
Conversations With Friends is Rooney’s first novel, centering around two couples in Dublin whose lives become intertwined in overlapping love triangles and friendships. The book’s narrator, Frances, will be played by unknown Cork actress Alison Oliver, while the other half of the complicated friendship will be played by American actress Sasha Lane (The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Utopia).
In the book, Frances’ and Bobbi’s lives are irreversibly changed when they meet Nick and Melissa, an older couple in Dublin’s literary scene, who invite the girls into their home and lives. Melissa will be played by Jemima Kirke, the British-American actress best known for playing troubled bohemian Jessa Johansson in Girls. Melissa’s husband, Nick, will be played by English actor Joe Alwyn (Mary Queen of Scots, The Favourite).
Undoubtedly, with its accomplished cast, Conversations with Friends will be just as popular as its predecessor. The cast began shooting scenes early last week, as confirmed by the official Normal People Instagram and BBC Three’s Twitter. The show is set to be released next year on Hulu, the BBC, and RTÉ.
For more related news about the BBC series, click here to read about its recent thriller, The Serpent.
