‘Sharp Objects’ Awards Potential Multipilies

HBO’s adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s ‘Sharp Objects’ casts its second Oscar nominee as Emmy buzz builds. Should we just crown Adams and Clarkson now?

By Jalal Haddad

The upcoming HBO adaptation of Sharp Objects cast its second Oscar nominee earlier this week. Patricia Clarkson (next seen in House of Cards Season 5) will join the 8-episode series as Adora Crellin, the queen of the local socialite scene as well as the estranged mother of Amy Adams’ lead character Camille Parker. Adams was cast as the lead in early 2016 and will be performing double duties as star and executive producer.

Gillian Flynn’s debut novel follows Camille Parker, a reporter recently released from a psychiatric hospital. She returns to her hometown to research the murder of two preteen girls. As she covers the murder, Adams’ character begins to put together a psychological puzzle from her past. Flynn has described her debut novel as a thriller with “moist” and “gothic tones.”

Jason Blum’s Blumhouse Productions, which previously produced the HBO projects The Jinx and The Normal Heart, first optioned the best seller six years ago. Marti Noxon (UnReal) will server as show-runner as well as co-write the series with Flynn. Jean-Marc Vallée (Big Little Lies) will direct all eight episodes.

Since the massive success of 2014’s Gone Girl, audiences have clamored for adaptations of Gillian Flynn’s other novels, and the casting news of Patricia Clarkson only adds to the excitement. Sharp Objects marks the television debut of Amy Adams since becoming a major Hollywood star. As a 5-time Oscar nominee, her rise to Emmy glory seems inevitable. Mixing in a 2-time Emmy winning actress and a director known for his ability to guide actors to award-worthy roles (including the entire cast of Big Little Lies) only adds to growing buzz . With filming reportedly starting this week the only question left to answer is when exactly the show will premiere?