The series explores issues of class, race, and family in a suburban America setting.
This is the untold truth ofLittle Fires Everywhere.
That’s some seriously high praise!
Both Witherspoon and Kerry Washington are executive producers of the project, as is Ng, according toIMDb.
Hey, if the author is happy with the adaptation, that bodes well for everyone else!
“And we had one father,” Tigelaar added.
“People challenged each other and were willing to be challenged,” she continued.
“And that’s what made the show great.”
That’s certainly a deviation from the norm in Hollywood.
That balance makes sense in this situation especially, given what Ng’s novel focuses on at heart.
And there was no shortage of mothers on set, either.
Both shows also feature Reese Witherspoon on-screen and is produced by Witherspoon’s production company.
“We’re dealing with hundreds of years of storytelling about mothers,” she revealed toThe Hollywood Reporter.
“We’re just barely scratching the surface of stories that tell the spectrum of female behavior.”
Shaker Heights isn’t a creation of Celeste Ng’s imagination it’s a very real place.
In fact, it’s exactly where the novelist lived from 1990 through 1998, according toThe Guardian.
“It was a lovely place to grow up,” she told the publication.
“The houses are beautiful and the schools are excellent.
You walked under a canopy of green.”
That does sound idyllic!
She added that our understanding of race has evolved since then, becoming more nuanced.
“I justlovethat they asked me to do it,” she gushed in an interview withBuzzFeed News.
But she never had to make her pitch, as they offered the opportunity before she could.
“I wanted to know what was going on,” she continued.
“I’m just generally interested in how people do their jobs.”
“Creating that character was a new challenge for me,” she explained toVanity Fair.
Indeed Elena Richardson possesses some frustrating characteristics, which Witherspoon honed in on during production.
“She’s constructed a life that’s impervious to the world she lives in,” she continued.
Additionally, Ng pointed out that our own racial biases will be challenged by Witherspoon’s performance.
“And they’re used togettingthat benefit of the doubt.”
That doesn’t mean that Witherspoon’s character is a total villain, however.
As Ng puts it, she probably just wants to speak with your manager.
Plus, she’s an incredibly talented actress, as anyone who’s watchedScandalcan attest.
“So, I think adding a layer to that complexity with race is really powerful.”
Rather, showrunner Liz Tigelaar wants viewers to understand each character’s unique perspective.
“We tried to show characters' experiences.”
“There is commenting, but there’s not judging,” Tigelaar continued.
“To me there’s real closure.”
Additionally, Gavin Lewis was cast as Moody Richardson, Tripp’s younger brother.
So, what challenges do these young actors find in store for their characters?
“There is some truth to that, but he has to shatter that.”
