The first trailer for the much anticipated TV adaptation of Lessons in Chemistry has been released ahead of its debut on Apple TV+ later this year.
Based on the hit debut novel by Bonnie Garmus, Lessons in Chemistry follows Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson), whose dream of being a chemist is halted by the limitations of 1950s society. When Elizabeth is fired from her lab job, she accepts a role as a TV host and finds herself teaching her newfound audience of overlooked housewives—and the men who are listening—a lot more than just recipes.
The story of how this adaptation came to be is a fascinating tale in and of itself. In January 2021, an entire year before Garmus’ novel was even published, Apple announced a straight-to-series order for the adaptation. Oscar-winner Brie Larson (Captain Marvel) was immediately attached to star and executive produce the project. The novel was then published in April 2022, to much acclaim, and fans have been eagerly awaiting Larson’s turn as heroine Elizabeth Zoot ever since. That Garmus’ novel was sent to series so quickly is indicative of just how much faith producers had in this story.
In the trailer, Larson’s character can be seen describing women as “the overlooked workhorse of the kitchen” after being dismissed as nothing more than “a pretty lab tech”, making it clear that this series will not shy away from conversations around sexism in the 1950s that are just as relevant today. It feels fitting to follow the summer of Barbie with a series about a single mother battling a patriarchal society, rounding off what has felt like a strong year for female-centred stories.
There’s still some time to catch up on the book if you haven’t already, as Lessons in Chemistry is set to debut on Apple TV+ later this year on October 13th.
Words by Nadira Begum
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