Everything you need to know about Sally Rooney’s Conversations with Friends TV Show adaptation
By Susie Clarke
Conversations with Friends, 2022. (TV Still)
In a time where the world stood still, normal life seemingly buried under the daily news of new Covid-19 figures and despairing news, the familiarity of the TV screen seemed to bring us all a bit closer, whether it be discussing new shows on your boozy Friday night zoom call with friends or the instant serotonin boost provided by a flood of live reactions and memes via twitter during air time. For the majority of the young Irish demographic, the new show Normal People seemed to provide this befitting distraction from the dreary realities of lockdown life.
The show was a pioneer in broaching harsh realities facing modern Irish youth, so it came as no surprise to all those who watched it that this show received such popularity in Ireland and around the globe, skyrocketing Sally Rooney into fame. Since its release, audiences have been itching for the new television adaptation of Rooney’s famous book, Conversations with Friends. Since the announcement, excitement has been built especially around the seemingly difficult casting task. People were positively surprised when the initial trailer was released earlier this month, giving us a sneak peak of the cast and more importantly what's to come throughout the show.
The Plot
The story is set in Dublin and surrounds twenty-one-year old Frances, a quiet student trying to navigate her college life and relationships, including one with her ex-turned-best friend Bobbi. The storyline is centred around Frances and Bobbi’s entanglement involving a new captivating, older couple, Melissa and Nick, who they run into one night at a poetry meeting. The plot follows along with their involvement in the couple's mysterious private life and its shadowed effects on the girls' relationship with each other and themselves, heightening their self reflection onto who they are as people. This story is one which delves into the psyche of Frances; her highs and lows she experiences as a naïve young adult attempting to find herself through complicated relationships and the ever changing world around her.
The Cast
The main role of Frances will be played by the fresh face of upcoming actor Alison Oliver. A Cork native who studied in Lir Academy of Dramatic Art at Trinity College, a prestigious school with graduates like Paul Mescal, a fellow Irish actor who made his debut in Rooney’s previous TV adaptation, Normal People. The role seems to be very fitting, having studied in Trinity herself and experienced college life in Dublin, Oliver is sure to become an overnight sensation once the show airs in May. Taylor Swift fans were pleased to know that her long term boyfriend, Joe Alwyn was cast to play one of the lead roles as Nick. Perfectly matching the description of Nick in the book, fans believe this was the ideal casting decision by producers. American Honey breakout star, Sasha Lane, is set to play Bobbi while Jemima Kirke, who featured as the wildly unlikeable principle in Sex Education, will play Nick’s wife Melissa. The worldwide recognition of the previous series is sure to rocket this already star studded cast into a new level of fame.
The show is set to be released in May 2022 and will be available on RTE, BBC3 and HULU.
