Too Much

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Lena Dunham has formed a fresh creative alliance with streaming giant Netflix, offering a glimpse into her upcoming series titled Too Much. The show boasts popular talents Megan Stalter from Hacks and Will Sharpe, who made waves in The White Lotus Season 2. This series is speculated to be the first of several new ventures by Dunham at Netflix.

As a cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that the creator of Girls and Netflix have joined forces, an exciting collaboration announced at the “Next on Netflix” event in London this past Wednesday. At this gathering, Netflix unveiled the initial glimpse of their upcoming comedy series (see below). Titled Too Much, the story revolves around me, Jessica – a New York workaholic who’s left dazed after the end of a relationship I thought would last an eternity. Plagued by my past, I decide to escape the crowded streets of NYC for a job opportunity in London, seeking solitude from everyone I know and aiming to live my best single life, much like a Brontë sister. However, things take an unexpected turn when I cross paths with Felix (Sharpe), who’s not your typical Hugh Grant from Notting Hill but more like Hugh Grant’s tipsy flatmate.

Viewers will undoubtedly recall Stalter as Kayla Schaffer from the popular show Hacks. In the past, she has expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with Lena Dunham for an upcoming series set in London, commending her abilities and versatility. Stalter likened the humor and style of the new project to that of Dunham’s Girls. Joining the cast are Adele Exarchopoulos, Adwoa Aboah, Andrew Rannells (who has worked with Dunham in both Girls and her latest film Treasure, featuring Stephen Fry), Daisy Bevan, Richard E. Grant (who had a recurring role as the father of Jemima Kirke’s character Jessa on Girls), Rita Wilson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Emily Ratajkowski, and Stephen Fry, among others.

Netflix and Lena Dunham Team Up In New First-Look Partnership

During a question-and-answer session, Dunham revealed that her personal move to London sparked the initial idea for Too Much. Alongside her, her husband, Luis Felber, collaborated on creating the series. Although the scripted comedy series was developed prior to this recent collaboration between Dunham and Netflix, it offers a sneak peek into the type of content audiences can anticipate from them. Dunham, who is involved as the creator, writer, director, and executive producer, stated:

Michael P. Cohen and I are eagerly looking forward to embarking on the next stage of Good Thing Going at Netflix, our ideal creative hub that champions artists and provides us with countless beloved shows as viewers. Since our initial discussions with the Netflix team, we’ve shared a unified vision to explore classic genres while adding an intriguing twist, all inspired by unique perspectives. We are delighted to collaborate across the U.S. and the U.K., and aim to expand this partnership globally to bring diverse stories to life in captivating new worlds.

Despite not playing the main role, Lena Dunham will appear in the semi-autobiographical series. In a recent interview with The New Yorker, Dunham openly discussed her decision to step back from starring in Too Much following the body-shaming she endured as the lead actress on her popular HBO series.

At this stage of my life, I didn’t want to undergo another encounter similar to what I’d had with Girls. On a physical level, I simply couldn’t bear the thought of exposing my body for dissection again. It was a difficult decision, as I knew I desired Meg, but acknowledging that truth to myself wasn’t easy.

Since her days on “Girls”, Lena Dunham has primarily been involved in writing and producing, but she’s made occasional appearances, such as in “American Horror Story”, the 2022 movie “Sharp Stick”, and her upcoming 2024 film “Treasure”. Lena Dunham’s production company, Good Thing Going, will continue to create serialized projects exclusively for Netflix. Jinny Howe, Vice President of drama series at Netflix, discussed the new partnership, stating:

Lena’s unique storytelling style and genuine approach have revolutionized narrative for today’s generation, making her a creative powerhouse who skillfully combines intricate and profound narratives that are both thought-provoking and entertaining. We eagerly anticipate sharing more of the heartfelt stories audiences adore from Lena.

Too Much premieres on Netflix later this year.

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2025-01-31 21:02