Move over, Mr. Wizard, because Brie Larson is set to star in and executive produce the drama series Lessons in Chemistry for Apple.
Apple recently gave a straight-to-series order for the project, which is based on the upcoming debut novel from author, science editor, and copywriter Bonnie Garmus. Set in the early 1960s, “Lessons in Chemistry” follows Elizabeth Zott (Larson), whose dream of being a scientist is put on hold in a society deeming that women belong in the domestic sphere, not the professional one. When Elizabeth finds herself pregnant, alone, and fired from her lab, she musters the ingenuity only a single mother has. She accepts a job as a host on a TV cooking show, and sets out to teach a nation of overlooked housewives – and the men who are suddenly listening – a lot more than recipes, all the while craving a return to her true love: science. (per Variety)
As a way of adding even more powerful players to the project, Lessons in Chemistry will be written by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Susannah Grant, whose previous work includes the script for Erin Brockovich. Joining Larson as executive producers on the series are Jason Bateman and Michael Costigan via their Aggregate Films studio.
“Lessons in Chemistry” doesn't hit bookstore shelves until spring 2022, but an adaptation of Garmus' story has already found a home at Apple, and with such top-tier talent attached to boot. This will be the second Apple series that Larson has joined, after boarding a drama series based on the Amaryllis Fox memoir "Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA" in March 2019. Unfortunately, the untitled Amaryllis Fox has been shelved for the time being due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as Larson's Captain Marvel 2 filming schedule.
Are you prepared for Brie Larson to blind you with science? I certainly hope so. We'll be sure to share more details about Lessons in Chemistry as they come about.