Netflix to Debut Emily Carey's 'Geek Girl' in May

One of the ways Netflix is winning the streaming wars is that it has never been precious about "Netflix originals" actually being Netflix originals. The streaming service has always been perfectly happy to drop a relatively small amount of money as a "co-producer" to scoop up the rights to stream a series globally everywhere outside of its home country in exchange for being allowed to call the show a "Netflix Original" everywhere that isn't the show's place of origin. The Great British Baking Show is the most famous example of this; Channel 4 needed money after spending £25m on an empty tent and the right to hold a baking competition in it, and it was much cheaper for Netflix to give them a few hundred thousand than produce an entire show alone. 

The latest of these "Netflix Originals," where Netflix swings in with a bit of extra money to make the show's budget stretch further, is the British-Canadian series Geek Girl, which stars House of the Dragon's Emily Carey in her first major leading role since exiting the dragon-riding series' first season. It's a family-friendly series based on the best-selling 2013 book of the same name from British author Holly Smale. Smale's book spawned an entire series, the sequels of which were published between 2014 and 2017, and encompass six books in all. However, the show was not initially planned to be an ongoing endeavor, and Netflix confirmed when it boarded the project that it would remain a limited series.

Like most of Netflix's not-original Originals, the streamer isn't putting that much effort into marketing, so don't feel bad if you haven't heard about the series, especially since it debuts the same day as Netflix's own higher profile (and much more pricey production) Eric, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch. However, there are a few first images out for the series if you look for them.

Here's the series synopsis:

Harriet Manners is an awkward, geeky 16-year-old who has spent her life trying to blend in. However, her whole world changes when she catches the eye of a modeling agent while on a school trip to London Fashion Week. Tightly wound agents, reclusive designers, impossibly high heels, and a handsome young supermodel with a great smile – socially awkward Harriet has no idea what she's in for.

Carey co-stars alongside Tim Downie (Outlander), Sarah Parish (The Wedding Date), Jemima Rooper (Lost in Austen), Mia Jenkins (Domina) Sandra Yi Sencindiver (Alien), Alana Boden (I Am Elizabeth Smart), Madeleine Price (Sandokan), Daisy Jelley (How to Have Sex), Alexandra Chaves (Good Witch), Hersha Verity (The Power), Liam Woodrum (213 Bones), Hebe Beardsall (Andor), Catherine De Seve (Plan B), Zac Looker (A Kind of Spark), and newcomer Rochelle Harrington.

Director Declan O’Dwyer helmed most of the ten-episode series, adapted from the novel by British writer Holly Smale. The series is a Canadian production from Waterside Studios, Nelvana, Ruby Rock Pictures, and Aircraft Pictures. It will air and stream on regular Canadian TV, and on Netflix everywhere outside of Canada.

All ten episodes of Geek Girl land on Netflix on Thursday, May 30, 2024.