Paramount+ begins filming Little Disasters adaptation for UK and Ireland

Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland has begun production on Roughcut Television’s adaptation of Sarah Vaughan’s novel Little Disasters, with Diane Kruger on board to star and Fremantle set to distribute.

Diane Kruger

Little Disasters (6×60′) is described as a complex psychological thriller exploring female friendships and motherhood through four expectant mothers thrown together with little in common apart from their due dates.

It focuses on an A&E doctor who doesn’t believe a close friend’s explanation for injuries sustained by her child. As the authorities become involved, the friendship begins to fracture.

Joining Kruger (Inglourious Basterds) in the ensemble cast are Jo Joyner (The Wives), Shelley Conn (Gen V), Emily Taaffe (The Rising), JJ Feild (Turn), Ben Bailey Smith (Star Wars: Andor) and Stephen Campbell Moore (The History Boys).

Ruth Fowler and Amanda Duke adapted the series for the screen with Roughcut Television executive producers Ash Atalla, Alex Smith and Marianna Abbotts on board alongside Vaughan.

Roughcut optioned the novel a year after it was published in 2020.

Simon Judd executive produces for Fremantle, Eva Sigurdardottir is the director and Myf Hopkins serves as the producer. It was commissioned by Sebastian Cardwell and Paul Testar for Paramount+ UK & Ireland.

Production on the show has begun and the series will be available exclusively on Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland. Fremantle is handling global sales.

Kruger said: “This series will offer a relatable story which examines the crippling judgement levied upon mothers by society.”

Rebecca Dundon, senior VP of scripted acquisitions at Fremantle, said: “Little Disasters has all the elements of an addictive drama – expertly weaving universal themes of motherhood, friendship, privilege, duty and societal pressures into a provocative nail-biting thriller which we know will engage audiences around the world.”