Lessons In Chemistry: The Apple TV+ Adaptation Is Coming This October

Apple TV+ is bringing us all the goodies this autumn – from period drama The Buccaneers to rom-com sci-fi Fingernails. But perhaps racking up the biggest hype is a TV adaptation of Bonnie Garmus’ bestselling novel Lessons In Chemistry, which will see Brie Larson taking on the zesty protagonist, scientist Elizabeth Zott.

Lessons In Chemistry: Plot, Cast, Trailer

Courtesy of Apple TV

Plot

Garmus’ debut novel was one of the biggest literary hits of 2022, lauded for its thought-provoking, insightful exploration of feminism, written with sharp wit and humour. Set in the ‘60s, it tells the story of chemist Elizabeth Zott, who works at the Hastings Research Institute. Here, she is constantly belittled, ignored and generally treated terribly by her male colleagues (according to Garmus, experiencing workplace misogyny was one of the things that inspired her to write the book).

When Zott is fired from her job at the institute, and faces life as a single mother, she reluctantly becomes the star of a new cooking show, Supper At Six. While initially she takes the job simply to pay the bills, Elizabeth’s unusual approach to cooking soon sparks something of a revolution – one which extends way past the realms of the kitchen, encouraging women to push past the patriarchal status quo.

Courtesy of Apple TV

Cast

Playing the central role is Brie Larson, known for movies like The Marvels and Room. She’s joined by Lewis Pullman (The Strangers, Top Gun: Maverick) as Elizabeth’s love interest, fellow scientist Calvin Evans. Speaking about the series to Vanity Fair, Pullman said Larson ‘took the time and care to make sure I was bringing to life the version of Calvin I connected to most. Every day, it was a battle of convincing myself it was totally normal and not a big deal’.

Aja Naomi King (How To Get Away with Murder) plays neighbour and friend Harriet, while Stephanie Koenig (The Flight Attendant) takes on the role of Hastings’ secretary Fran Frask. The cast also features Patrick Walker (Ambush), Thomas Mann (About Fate), Kevin Sussman (The Big Bang Theory, Ugly Betty) and Beau Bridges (Acting: The First Six Lessons).

Courtesy of Apple TV

Trailer

Have a first glimpse at the series in the trailer below.

Release Date

The series will arrive on Apple TV+ on 13 October 2023.