NEW YORK – Reporter Camille Preaker returns to her small hometown to cover the murder of one preteen girl and the abduction of another. Trying to put together a psychological puzzle from her past, she finds herself identifying with the young victims a bit too closely.
Starring five-time Oscar-nominee Amy Adams (Arrival, Nocturnal Animals), Sharp Objects debuts same time as the US on Monday, July 9 at 9am on HBO GO and HBO. New episodes premiere every Monday at the same time and repeat on the same day at 10pm on HBO. Viewers can catch up on past episodes anytime on HBO GO and HBO On Demand.
Based on Gillian Flynn’s (Gone Girl) bestselling novel of the same name, the eight-episode limited series was created by Peabody winner and Emmy-nominee Marti Noxon (UnREAL, Dietland, Mad Men) and directed by Emmy, DGA and PGA winner Jean-Marc Vallée (Big Little Lies, Dallas Buyers Club, Wild) from scripts by Marti Noxon and Gillian Flynn.
Patricia Clarkson (the Maze Runner series, Six Feet Under), Chris Messina (The Mindy Project, The Newsrooom), Eliza Scanlen (Home and Away), Elizabeth Perkins (This Is Us, Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Matt Craven (X-Men, Justified) also star, along with Henry Czerny (Quantico, When We Rise), Miguel Sandoval (Station 19, Medium), Taylor John Smith (Cruel Intentions, American Crime), Sophia Lillis (It) and Madison Davenport (From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series).
Sharp Objects was filmed in Los Angeles and Northern California, and in and around Atlanta.
“Sharp Objects is my first child, my first novel. I wrote it nights and weekends and holidays with no real belief it would ever be published, because I felt like I had to bring this girl to life, so it holds a sacred place with me. It’s a strange and thrilling thing, bringing text to screen, allowing it to become a new thing while honouring readers’ interpretations too, it’s fun and a bit scary,” said author Gillian Flynn.
“This was my first novel, yet the last to reach screen, 12 long and often disappointing years. But then Amy came along, and I thought, “Oh, that was it! Camille was waiting for Amy to play her.” And that’s not lofty, writer talk. I really believe Camille needed Amy,” she added.
Said director Jean-Marc Vallée: “It’s curious how we can find beauty in places we wouldn’t expect. How darkness sometimes can become attractive, comforting. This is what happened to me when I read Gillian’s novel. I got sucked into Camille’s head. I was fascinated by her obsession with words, the way she uses them to define herself, to heal and to harm, and her way of describing the world, her way of talking about herself, her wounds and imperfections. What a unique voice, so raw, so dark, and yet so honest and vulnerable. That is Camille Preaker’s beauty, and Amy Adams.”
Creator and showrunner Marti Noxon observed: “This is a story that speaks to a part of women’s lives that we rarely address: our impulse to hurt ourselves and each other. I feel like Camille is representative of so many women who have continually suppressed the damage that has been done to them throughout their lives, and how in an effort to avoid dealing with the root of our issues we inflict pain onto ourselves in various forms. It’s something I could personally relate to, and to see this character who is deeply flawed, but still incredibly brave in her search for the truth, was part of why this story stayed with me for so long after reading it, and it was that lingering hold that made me want to adapt it into a series.”
Cast of characters:
- Camille Preaker (Amy Adams), a St. Louis newspaper reporter sent on assignment to Wind Gap, her quaint Missouri hometown, to cover the gruesome murder of one preteen girl and the disappearance of another.
- Adora Crellin (Patricia Clarkson), Camille’s mother and queen of Wind Gap’s high society, who has her serene, picture-perfect life threatened by the unexpected return of her estranged daughter.
- Richard Willis (Chris Messina), a detective brought in from Kansas City to support Wind Gap’s sheriff in the search for the killer of a young girl. He joins forces with Camille to try to solve the mystery.
- Amma (Eliza Scanlen), Camille’s 15-year-old half-sister, living a double life as a restrained and girlish daughter at home with her parents, and as a brash, impetuous teenager when out with friends.
- Jackie (Elizabeth Perkins), the local gossip and renowned alcoholic. Trashy, fun and larger than life, she knows she’s a “backwoods Barbie” and has a sense of humour about it.
- Vickery (Matt Craven), the frustrated small-town police chief, trying to preserve the reputation of Wind Gap by keeping a lid on the possibility that a serial killer might live among them.
- John Keene (Taylor John Smith), moody and sombre since the murder of his 13-year-old sister. His sensitive, temperamental nature raises eyebrows and makes him a prime suspect in the murder investigation.
- Meredith (Madison Davenport), the confident and supportive girlfriend of murder suspect John Keene.
- Bob Nash (Will Chase), the hot-tempered father of Ann Nash, Wind Gap’s first murder victim.
- Alan Crellin (Henry Czerny), Adora’s attentive, mild-mannered husband, who dotes on her.
- Curry (Miguel Sandoval), Camille’s caring and supportive newspaper editor, who sends her on assignment to her home town.
- Young Camille (Sophia Lillis), a 14-year-old tomboy who is devoted to her younger sister, Marian.
The first few episodes include:
Episode 1: Vanish
Camille Preaker, a reporter for the St. Louis Chronicle, is sent to her rural hometown of Wind Gap by her editor Curry, to file a story about two missing girls, one of whom was found dead and presumed murdered. The assignment, which reunites Camille with her overbearing mother Adora, stepfather Alan Crellin, and half-sister Amma, brings back traumatic childhood memories, including the death of Camille’s younger sister, Marian, when both were schoolgirls. Tormented by her past and seeking refuge through alcohol, Camille joins Detective Richard Willis and Chief of Police Vickery in following leads around town that might shed light on the fate of the most recent missing girl.
(Written by Marti Noxon; directed by Jean-Marc Vallée)
Episode 2: Dirt
Camille searches for clues at the funeral and wake for Wind Gap’s latest victim, and clashes with her mother over Camille’s presence in the town. Richard finds a surprising way to arrive at a conclusion about the murderer’s profile. Camille pays a visit to the working-class home of a young boy who says he witnessed the abduction, and confronts Chief Vickery about why he ignored the boy’s claim.
(Written by Gillian Flynn; directed by Jean-Marc Vallée)
Episode 3: Fix
Camille relives a recent tragedy as she struggles to piece together the murders in Wind Gap. Richard grows frustrated with Chief Vickery’s assumptions regarding potential suspects. A defiant Amma shows off her wild side to Camille, while Adora admonishes Camille for meddling in the investigation and a town in mourning.
(Written by Alex Metcalf; directed by Jean-Marc Vallée)
Episode 4: Ripe
Camille agrees to show Richard some of Wind Gap’s crime scenes, though the tour opens up old wounds. Alan confronts Adora about her sharing confidences with Chief Vickery, who is concerned about the Crellins hosting the annual “Calhoun Day” attended by Wind Gap’s youth. Fired from his job at Preaker Farms, John shares off-the-record revelations with Camille that raise fresh concerns for her.
(Written by Vince Calandra; directed by Jean-Marc Vallée)
Sharp Objects is an Entertainment One and Blumhouse Television production; created by Marti Noxon, who serves as showrunner; based on the novel by Gillian Flynn; Jean-Marc Vallée directs all episodes and co-edits the series. Marti Noxon writes several episodes, as does Gillian Flynn. Executive producers are Marti Noxon, Jean-Marc Vallée, Amy Adams, Gillian Flynn, Jason Blum, Nathan Ross, Gregg Fienberg, Charles Layton, Jessica Rhoades, Marci Wiseman and Jeremy Gold. Additional writers include co-executive producer Vince Calandra, co-producer Scott Brown, and consulting producers Alex Metcalf and Dawn Kamoche & Ariella Blejer.
