Get Your First Look at Period Drama ‘The Miniaturist’
WARNING: Embargoed for publication until 00:00:01 on 07/04/2017 - Programme Name: The Miniaturist - TX: n/a - Episode: The Miniaturist - Early Release (No. n/a) - Picture Shows: Marin (ROMOLA GARAI) , Nella Oortman (ANYA TAYLOR JOY) - (C) The Forge - Photographer: Laurence Cendrowicz
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The BBC has released two clips from upcoming period drama The Miniaturist, a tense, lush-looking series based on the mega-popular novel of the same name by Jessie Burton. The three-part drama is a Masterpiece co-production, meaning that it’ll be heading to the U.S. next year on PBS.
The Miniaturist follows the story of a young woman in 17th century Amsterdam who, excited for her new life as the wife of a prosperous merchant, finds herself in a world of betrayal and fear instead.
The series stars Atlantis’ Anya Taylor Joy, Torchwood’s Alex Hassell, The Hour’s Romola Garai, Emily Berrington, Paapa Essiedu and more.
The full story goes something like this, according to the official description.
In 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman (Taylor-Joy) knocks at the door of a grand house in the wealthiest quarter of Amsterdam. Full of hopes and dreams, she has come from the country to begin a new life as the wife of wealthy merchant Johannes Brandt (Hassell). But instead of Johannes, she’s met by his cold sister Marin (Garai) and their servants and quickly realizes that nothing is as it seems in the Brandt household. When Johannes finally appears he presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet that is a miniature replica of their home. It is to be furnished by an elusive Miniaturist, whose tiny creations mirror what is happening within the house in unexpected ways and seem to be predicting and unravelling the future with unsettling precision.
As Nella begins to uncover its secrets and those of the Brandt household she realizes the escalating dangers that await them all. Does the Miniaturist hold their fate in her hands? And will she be the key to their salvation or the architect of their downfall?
Dun dun dunnnnn. Sounds kinda creepy, yeah?
The first preview clip details Nella’s initial impressions of Amsterdam, but definitely has something of a…darker undercurrent, thanks to the presence of her sister-in-law:
The second gives us a look at Nella’s miniature house, and the figures within it already seem to be causing problems.
The Miniaturist will air this holiday season in the U.K. on BBC One beginning on Boxing Day. But no American airdate has yet been announced. Seems a safe guess that, like, Little Women and The Child in Time, we’ll probably see this production in America sometime in mid-to-late Spring. (Reminder: That is a complete guess; please do not send me hatemail if I turn out to be very wrong)
Are you interested in The Miniaturist? Have any of you read this novel? Is it as creepy as the clips and descriptions make it sound? Do tell.
