Disney+ commissions Playdate
June 27, 2023
Disney+ has commissioned a new five-part drama, Playdate, produced by Quay Street Productions and Brightstar. The series is adapted by Catherine Moulton from Alex Dahl’s best-selling novel of the same name, and directed by Eva Husson. Nicola Shindler executive produces for Quay Street Productions, along with executive producers Tanya Seghatchian and John Woodward for Brightstar.
A seemingly ordinary decision turns the world of Elisa, mum to two young kids, upside down in this tense thriller. When her 9-year-old daughter Lucia excitedly asks to go on an overnight playdate with her new best friend Josie, Elisa agrees. After meeting Josie’s mother, Rebecca, she’s put at ease by her charming nature and their impressive house. But when she says goodnight to her daughter, she has no idea that she is about to be thrust into every parent’s worst nightmare. The next day, when Elisa goes to pick up Lucia, she discovers that the beautiful house was a holiday rental. Lucia is missing. Rebecca and Josie have vanished. What started out as her daughter’s first sleepover has turned into an abduction.
Johanna Devereaux, VP of Scripted Content for Disney+ EMEA, commented: “Playdate is a brilliantly twisty thriller with a terrifying, instantly relatable hook. We are very proud to be working with celebrated producers Nicola Shindler, Tanya Seghatchian, and John Woodward, visionary director Eva Husson, and rising star writer Catherine Moulton on this must-see thriller.”
Shindler said: Playdate tells the story of fascinating, relatable and complex women in a situation that is any parent’s worst nightmare. Catherine Moulton has adapted Alex’s bestselling thriller with a real dramatic sense of story that we hope will hook audiences in from the start.
Seghatchian and Woodward added: “Partnering with Quay Street and Disney+ we couldn’t be more delighted to move into production with director and executive producer, Eva Husson at the helm. Eva is a multiple Cannes Film Festival contender who is bringing her unique vision to the show and she is directing all episodes. Playdate is a very rare beast – a thriller that combines beautifully crafted edge-of-the-seat suspense with unexpected plot twists and truly powerful drama focused on these strong women who are intent on hiding their darkest secrets from the world”.
Production will commence shortly in the UK and France.