3 Productions Based on Liane Moriarty Novels to Look Forward to After ‘Apples Never Fall’

Peacock’s latest original Apples Never Fall — from the acclaimed novelist who brought us Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers — follows a seemingly happy (but latently dysfunctional family) as they grapple with their mother’s disappearance. While critics have been quick to pan the latest series based on Moriarty’s family-driven suspenseful saga as trope-filled and weak on character development, the mystery at the core keeps the series boiling. So, if you’ve already binged the latest drama starring Annette Bening and Sam Neill, we’ve got you covered with upcoming productions based on Moriarty books to look forward to. 

‘Truly Madly Guilty’ | In Development

Erika and Clementine have been best friends since childhood, so when Erika needs a little assistance, Clementine should be her first call. However, Clementine is busy preparing for the Cello audition of a lifetime while managing her life as a mother of two, so the last thing she needs is another “distress” call from Erika… Hopefully, the barbecue their neighbors are hosting will be a needed respite from their hectic lives ( and a time to forget about their problems momentarily). Yet, at that very barbecue, all hell breaks loose. This story about marriage, sex, parenthood, friendships, and more is a captivating take on guilt, fault, unspoken concerns, and the intricate dynamics that define our seemingly strongest connections. 

Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman are teaming up to adapt the series, with Witherspoon producing through Hello Sunshine and Kidman through Blossom Films. Not much has been revealed, including who’s coming on to adapt the screenplay, but based on Big Little Lies’ success, David E. Kelley may be the man to turn to. 

‘The Husband’s Secret’ | In Development

Leave it to Moriarty to be behind yet another twisty-turny, family-destabilizing, life-altering, mystery-fueled emotional rollercoaster. The premise: your husband has written you a letter he wishes you to open after his death. Inside the envelope, he reveals his darkest secret. This secret has the potential to destroy your life, as well as the lives of those around you. Then you stumble across the letter while your husband is still walking on this earth. This is Cecilia Fitzpatrick’s story. Fitzpatrick is a successful businesswoman, wife, and mother, whom many in her community admire, and this letter is about to shatter her life — as well as the lives of two women she barely knows. 

The movie will reportedly star Blake Lively in the title role. Kat Coiro (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Girls5Eva, Dead to Me) is set to direct with an adapted screenplay by Christy Hall (I Am Not Okay With This, Daddio), Pamela Gray (A Walk on the Moon, Music of the Heart, Conviction), and Moriarty. A release date and full cast has yet to be announced. 

‘The Last Anniversary’ | Post-Production

Sophie inherits a home on Scribbly Gum Island, the site of a well-known mystery, when her ex-boyfriend’s aunt passes away. Sophie begins a new life on this island and soon comes to realize that all its inhabitants (who constitute an unconventional family of sorts) seem to be harboring secrets and unexplainable hidden agendas — one woman plans to stage a great escape from her “perfect life,” while another has made a pact with a stranger, and yet another is debating her life’s choices. What will happen between Sophie and her ex — the “man who got away,” and what will come of Sophie? 

Nicole Kidman is set to produce the drama in collaboration with Made Up Stories and TV studio Fifth Season. The upcoming series stars Nicole Kidman, Danielle Macdonald (Dumplin’, The Tourist) Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies, The Choice, Hacksaw Ridge), and  Miranda Richardson (The Crying Game, Damage, Merlin).