The series adaptation of the upcoming novel “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” has landed a straight-to-series order at Apple TV+ in a competitive situation.
Elle Fanning will lead the series alongside Nicole Kidman, with David E. Kelley attached to write and showrun. A24 is the studio.
The novel, written by Rufi Thorpe, is due to be published in June 2024 by William Morrow. Per the description of the novel’s plot, it focuses on Margo Millet (who will be played by Fanning), the daughter of a Hooters waitress and an ex-pro wrestler. Now an unemployed single mother in her early 20s, Margo is struggling to make ends meet, leading her to launch an onlyFans account. When her father reenters her life, she starts incorporating his lessons from the pro wrestling world into her onlyFans work, leading to unexpected success.
Apple has given the series an eight episode order. Kelley will serve as writer, showrunner, and executive producer via David E. Kelley Productions. Fanning will executive produce along with Dakota Fanning and Brittany Kahan Ward for Lewellen Pictures. Kidman and Per Saari executive produce via Blossom Films. Matthew Tinker and Checka Propper for David E. Kelley Productions also executive produce along with Thorpe.
“Margo’s Got Money Troubles” marks the fourth series collaboration between Kidman and Kelley. They previously worked together on the show’s “Big Little Lies” and “The Undoing” at HBO and “Nine Perfect Strangers” at Hulu. It is also Kelley’s second series at Apple, with the streaming arm of the tech giant set to release the limited series “Presumed Innocent” from Kelley with Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role.
Fanning is coming off her critically-acclaimed starring role in the Hulu series “The Great,” for which she earned an Emmy nomination and three Golden Globe nominations. She also recently starred in the Peacock true crime series “The Girl From Plainville.” Her film credits include the “Maleficent” opposite Angelina Jolie, “The Neon Demon,” and “Super 8.”
Already one of the most in-demand film actresses of her time, Kidman has proven herself equally successful in television in recent years. She won two Emmy Awards for the first season of “Big Little Lies,” one for best actress in a limited series and another as an executive producer when the show won best limited series. She received two Golden Globe nominations for the show as well and another for “The Undoing.” In film, Kidman is a five-time Academy Award nominee, winning the award for best actress in 2003 for “The Hours.” She was most recently nominated in 2022 for “Being the Ricardos.”
Fanning is repped by UTA, TFC Management, and Hansen Jacobson. Kidman is repped by CAA, Media Talent Grou, The Lede Company and Jackoway Austen Tyerman. Kelley is repped by CAA and Gendler Kelly & Cunningham.
