Based on Celeste Ng’s 2017 bestselling novel, Little Fires Everywhere, the series of the same name premieres on Hulu on March 18. The eight-episodes series starts with a release of the first three episodes, and if they’re anything like this trailer, the show is going to keep us on our toes all season long.
In honor of the upcoming release, Hulu hosted a party at a gorgeous home high in the Hollywood Hills, with views for miles, though our early morning California clouds hadn’t yet burned off. The mansion had its own screening room, allowing us all ample room to spread out for trailer viewing and Q&A space after exploring the space and surrounding area.
Attended by author Celeste, showrunner and Executive Produce Liz Tigelaar and several cast members, the morning sped by as we took cast photos and took in the gorgeous views over our champagne glasses.
As if the home itself wasn’t enough, we brunched on gourmet organic breakfast items while sipping Veuve Clicquot mimosas. If only all of my mornings started this way.
Following the champagne and treats, we watched the extended trailer before the Q&A session began. I hadn’t read the book yet (though Hulu gifted us all with copies of the book, along with engraved ‘boujee’ Diptyque candles) but the trailer lends itself to a lot of thoughts and I can’t wait to dive into the book.
The book is based in the late 90s in Shaker Heights, Ohio, where Celeste grew up. The high school was very diverse, which lent itself to a lot of race discussion, even inspiring a race relations group, something which Celeste later learned isn’t the norm for schools.
Reese Witherspoon’s “Hello Sunshine” production company, and Kerry Washington’s “Simpson Street” were also involved in the completion of the series, in partnership with Hulu and ABC. They took part in a lot of the heavy discussions between the writers and collaborators to ensure that they were thoughtful about the important issues faced in the show. Liz (above left, with author Celeste Ng in the center) explained that the writers’ room for this series was the most amazing collaborative writers’ room she’d ever been in.
The cast includes Reese Witherspoon (Elena Richardson), Kerry Washington (Mia Warren), Joshua Jackson (Bill Richardson), Rosemarie DeWitt (Linda McCullough), Jade Pettyjohn (Lexie Richardson), Jordan Elsass (Trip Richardson), Gavin Lewis (Moody Richardson), Megan Stott (Izzy Richardson), Lexi Underwood (Pearl Warren), and Huang Lu (Bebe).
The story itself is about the intersecting lives of the picture-perfect Richardson family (led by Witherspoon) and a enigmatic mother (Washington) and daughter duo who upend their lives. The story explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, the ferocious pull of motherhood – and the danger in believing that following the rules can avert disaster.
With Reese and Kerry as the leads, you know this is going to be a captivating story that will suck you in until the last episode. I’m simultaneously excited that it’s opening with three episodes available and bummed because I know I’m going to want to sit and binge the entire season at once. I’m going to thank Hulu in advance though, as will my family, because I won’t lose an entire day on the couch.
Having been a young mom myself in the 90s, I’m looking forward to the flashback while biting my nails to find out what happens when these two feisty moms clash while their kids are bonding. I know this one’s going to have people everywhere subbing to Hulu. Will you be one? Let me know!
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