Hulu is expanding its original content offerings with the upcoming comedy-dramaTiny Beautiful Things.The half-hour series is an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s bestselling novelTiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar.The story centers on the life of Clare, a failed author who finds solace and purpose by writing for a small advice column named “Dear Sugar.” The premise of the show, the indie-drama connotations, and the involvement of award-winning Reese Witherspoon as executive producer suggests the series will find success alongsideWhere The Crawdad Sings, Maid, Big Little Lies,andWild.
Tiny Beautiful Thingsspeaks to a growing fan base for indiecomedy-dramas. This developing subgenre splits the difference between “Hallmark” movies, “feel-good” movies, indie films, and cinematic comedy-dramas. Because the original content is typically a best-selling novel or cult-following creative work, audiences of the genre and audiences of the original iteration of the content both find a deep, personal connection with the film or series. As streaming services continue to develop original content, there will be an ample amount of indie comedy-dramas premiering in the near future.
Exactly a decade after the 2012 publication of Strayed’s novel,Tiny Beautiful Thingsis scheduled to premiere on Hulu. Here’s everything to know.
Tiny Beautiful Things: The Plot
Huluoffered this official summary of the upcoming series.
“Based on the best-selling collection by Cheryl Strayed, “Tiny Beautiful Things” follows Clare (Kathryn Hahn), a foundering writer who becomes a revered advice columnist while her own life is falling apart.
When we first meet Clare, her marriage to her husband Danny is barely limping along; her teenage daughter, Rae, is pushing her away; and her once-promising writing career is non-existent. So when an old writing pal asks her to take over as the advice columnist Dear Sugar, she thinks she has no business giving anyone advice. After reluctantly taking on the mantle of Sugar however, Clare’s life unfurls in a complex fabric of memory, exploring her most pivotal moments from childhood through present day, and excavating the beauty, struggle, and humor in her unhealed wounds. Through Sugar, Clare forms a salve for her readers - and for herself - to show us that we are not beyond rescue, that our stories can ultimately save us. And, perhaps, bring us back home.”
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Strayed’s novel is structured as a “best of” compilation of Clare/Strayed’s “Dear Sugar” articles at the online literary magazineThe Rumpus. Because of the unique formatting of the novel,Tiny Beautiful Thingseasily lends itself to adaptation. Through a series of articles, letters,and personal musings, Strayed tells the story of Clare while incorporating some of her own real-life experiences. Each “Dear Sugar” article, chock-full of real-life advice from Cheryl Strayed under a pseudonym, could become a flashback or anthology of personal stories.
Tiny Beautiful Things: The Cast & Crew
The central cast includesKathryn Hahn(Wandavision, Bad Moms, Mrs. Fletcher),Sarah Pidgeon(The Wilds, Nowhere I’d Rather Be),Quentin Plair(Welcome To Chippendales, Roswell, New Mexico),and breakout actress Tanzyn Crawford.
Guest stars include Owen Painter(The Handmaid’s Tale),Merritt Wever(Run, Roar, Godless),Elizabeth Hinkler(No Escape, Under the Silver Lake),and Michaela Watkins(Casual, The Unicorn).
Liz Tigelaar serves as showrunner and executive producer of the series. In addition to Tigelaar, Lauren Neustadter, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Jayme Lemons, Cheryl Strayed, Stacey Silverman, and Kathryn Hahn are executive producers.
Release Date
The series has an estimated premiere date of Spring 2023.
Everything Else We Know
Tiny Beautiful Thingsreunites Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, and Cheryl Strayed after their previous collaboration on the 2014 filmWild. Additionally, the series serves as anothercollaboration for Witherspoon, Tigelaar, and ABC Signature after the previous collaboration on the Hulu seriesLittle Fires Everywhere.
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In a joint statement toDeadline, Craig Erwich (President of Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment) and showrunner Tigelaar explained whyTiny Beautiful Thingsis a timely, relevant series.
“As we emerge from a pandemic during which stories like those told in Tiny Beautiful Things helped us feel a sense of community and camaraderie at a moment we most needed it, this is a prescient story to be able to tell at this moment in time and we’re grateful to be able to tell it." - Erwich
“It has been such an honor to work with Cheryl Strayed, a writer who has had such a profound impact on my life, and, along with an amazing writing staff, adapt her book into series. Just like Dear Sugar, the advice column she helmed, Cheryl brings compassion, wisdom, humor and love to everything she does, and this show is no different. I’m so grateful to Hello Sunshine and Jaywalker, who entrusted me to tell this story. And I’m beyond thrilled to be working with Kathryn Hahn, whose gift is imbuing the fierce, complicated characters she portrays with humor, honesty, and vulnerability. A huge thank you to Peter, Dana, Craig and Jonnie and everyone at ABC Signature and Hulu. This project feels like coming home.” - Tigelaar
