Shonda Rhimes might be reinventing herself. Or, at the very least, she's Inventing Anna. The hard-working TV writer/producer is putting together her latest Netflix series, and if it's even half as popular as Bridgerton, we could be looking at one of the most talked-about new shows of this unconventional year. But let's not get ahead of ourselves here.
Based on the hard-to-believe true story reported by New York Magazine's Jessica Pressler, Inventing Anna stars Emmy-winning actress Julia Garner (Ozark) as the controversial social media personality Anna Delvey, in a high-society tale about making a splash and stealing a whole lot of cash. We're learning more about this limited series as it nears closer to its premiere, but here's what we know about Inventing Anna so far.
Inventing Anna Is Expected To Come Out In 2021 But No Premiere Date Is Announced
It's hard to know when a new Netflix show is slated to arrive on their worldwide service. The streamer likes to keep their cards close to their chest until closer to the actual airing. So no premiere date for Inventing Anna has been announced just yet.
Likewise, we don't exactly know when exactly Inventing Anna is planning to arrive, but the series is expected to premiere at some point during 2021, possibly this fall or perhaps closer to the holiday season, which would make sense. That's around the time Bridgerton premiered its first season last year.
Inventing Anna Is The Latest Netflix Series From Creator-Producer Shonda Rhimes
Buckle in, ladies and gentlemen. Shondaland has a new attraction. The latest series developed by the famous TV producer under her nine-figure Netflix deal, Inventing Anna promises to be another splashy, headline-friendly show. Filled with glamor and crime, it should appeal to a wide audience — even outside of Shonda Rhimes' wide fanbase. Following the massive success of Bridgerton, we should expect Inventing Anna to be an exciting ride. Be sure to strap yourself in.
Inventing Anna Is Based On A 2018 New York Magazine Article By Jessica Pressler
Admittedly, Jessica Pressler might not be a household name, but there's a better-than-decent chance that you're familiar with her material. More specifically, her 2015 article, "The Hustlers at Scores," inspired 2019's Hustlers, and we'll see her reporting adapted to a new show in a similar vein, Netflix's Inventing Anna. Based on her 2018 article, "How Anna Delvey Tricked New York," for The Cut, this expansive feature is rich in its not-so-glamorous examination of this New York con artist, and it'll hopefully inspire a series that's as critically acclaimed as Lorene Scafaria's well-celebrated crime dramedy.
The Limited Series Follows The Darkly Funny Relationship Between A Reporter And A Mysterious Instagram-Famous NYC Con Artist
As detailed in Jessica Pressler's New York Magazine article, the story behind Inventing Anna is a fascinating stranger-than-fiction account of fame, fortune, and, eventually, misfortune — all leading up to criminal behavior and some time behind bars. But let's not get ahead of ourselves here. The story at the center of this new Shonda Rhimes series follows an eager-to-prove-herself journalist (Anna Chlumsky) who investigates the case of Anna Delvey (Julia Garner), an Instagram-famous German heiress who made a big splash in the New York social scene, while also looting a whole lot of cash.
As this inquisitive journalist dives deeper into this scandalous personality, she begins to form a darkly funny love-hate relationship, all while Anna awaits trial. As the clock ticks, this journalist must ask some big questions. Namely, who is Anna Delvy? And is Delvey a luxurious con artist, or a fresh, filter-friendly portrait of the new-age American dream?
Inventing Anna Will Star Ozark’s Julia Garner As Anna Delvey
Over the past decade, Julia Garner has established herself as a distinguished young actress who only continues to impress with her complex and nuanced performances.
Particularly with her two-time Emmy-winning performance as Ruth Langmore on Netflix's Ozark, Julia Garner proved herself to be an intriguingly layered and dexterous actress, one who is capable of conveying so much weighted emotion with even one fleeting glance. She demonstrated her talents with standout roles in Grandma, Martha Marcy May Marlene, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, We Are Who We Are, and last year's exceptional lead performance in The Assistant. Additionally, on television, Garner showcased her commendable range in Waco, The Americans, and Netflix's Maniac.
Now, Julia Garner will surely impress as the extravagant Anna Delvey in Netflix's Inventing Anna. While Garner is known for playing demure characters, this latest role allows us to see a bold new side to Garner's versatile screen presence. We'll have to wait to see how the accomplished actress portrays this intriguing young personality.
Inventing Anna’s Cast Includes Anna Chlumsky, Laverne Cox, Anders Holm, And Jennifer Esposito
Starring alongside Julia Garner in this Netflix series is Anna Chlumsky, best known for her child star leading role as Vada Sultenfuss in the My Girl movies and her six-time Emmy-nominated performance as Amy Brookheimer in HBO's Veep. The actress will play Vivian, a journalist who tries to discover the truth behind Anna's wealth of mystery (and the mystery of her wealth). The character is based on producer Jessica Pressler.
Also joining the cast alongside Chlumsky and Garner are Laverne Cox, Anders Holm, and Jennifer Esposito. The former is signed on to play Kacy Duke, a celebrity fitness trainer, while the latter takes on the role of Talia Mallay, the famous owner of a lifestyle brand. Meanwhile, Holm will be seen as Jack, Vivian's husband. Also filling out the supporting cast is Scandal's Katie Lowes, along with Arian Moayed (Succession), Anna Deavere Smith (The West Wing), Jeff Perry (Grey's Anatomy), and Terry Kinney (Oz).
Inventing Anna Is Directed By The Devil Wears Prada’s David Frankel
While Cruella has received its fair share of comparisons to 2006's high fashion satire, The Devil Wears Prada, Inventing Anna is going straight to the source with its tale of a high-pressure socialite attempting to make a name for herself in the NYC social scene.
Specifically, the first two episodes of Shonda Rhimes' latest Netflix series are helmed by David Frankel, better known as the director behind the aforementioned Meryl Streep-Anne Hathaway comedy. Outside of that movie, Frankel is an Oscar-winning filmmaker for his 1996 short film, Dear Diary. His other movie credits include Marley and Me, The Big Year, Hope Springs, Collateral Beauty, One Chance, and Miami Rhapsody. Additionally, on TV, Frankel directed several episodes of Sex and the City. Furthermore, the director's other TV credits include Band of Brothers, The Morning Show, Entourage, and The Baker and the Beauty. Suffice to say, Frankel is a fine fit for this rich material.
Production Started In Early 2020, But Filming Was Delayed Due To COVID-19
Like many productions throughout the past year and a half, Inventing Anna hasn't had a smooth production. Following some pre-production work in late 2020 (November 2019, to be specific), cameras started to roll in February 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic ultimately shut down production on this upcoming streaming series. Filming eventually did resume on September 29th, 2020, nearly a year after pre-production began, and the production moved forward from there — albeit with safety restrictions implemented.
Presumably, Inventing Anna is in the can now, though it's unclear if additional filming or reshoots are needed. The safe bet is that the show is in post-production and hopefully premieres later this year. If we learn more about this new streaming series, we'll keep you posted.
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