House of the Dragon's Eve Best including Grease and The Good Wife actress Stockard Channing are set to join Suranne Jones (Gentleman Jack, Vigil, Doctor Foster) in a brand new upcoming drama titled Maryland. The three-part ITVX series will see Eve and Suranne play estranged sisters who travel from Manchester to the Isle of Man to repatriate their mother’s body - which was found at sunrise on Laxey Beach - and discover family secrets along the way.
The drama, which will be filmed in Ireland, is said by ITV to focus "on the relationship between two sisters" with Suranne playing down-to-earth mother of two Becca and Eve starring as disciplined high-flyer Rosaline. Whilst confined on the Isle of Man, the sisters discover some "shocking information about their mother and find it impossible to escape the ripple effect of her secrets and lies".
The mini-series will see US actress Stockard, play Cathy, the sister's mum’s friend on the island and will also star Hugh Quarshie (Stephen, Riches), Dean Lennox Kelly (Tom Jones, Jamestown) and Andrew Knott (Ackley Bridge, Tin Star). Gentleman Jack and Happy Valley actor George Costigan will play the sisters’ father, Richard, who stays behind in Manchester.
Suranne Jones has created and will executive produce Maryland alongside screenwriter Anne-Marie O’Connor, best known for creating comedy series Trollied. Anne-Marie is also known for being a writer and executive producer of upcoming Channel 4 comedy Hullraisers.
Speaking of the commission, head of drama Polly Hill said the series "promises to be a wonderful family drama", adding: “Maryland is a beautifully moving story of two sisters, and it’s hard to believe this is Anne-Marie’s first original drama commission. It’s a story developed by Suranne Jones and Anne-Marie, and it has been wonderful working with them and Monumental, to bring this story to screen."
Alison Owen, executive producer for Monumental, said on the announcement: “We feel privileged and are thrilled that Suranne has entrusted us with this, her original idea, from which Anne-Marie has crafted a wonderful drama. With these scripts and the support of ITV, we have attracted a dream cast and director, so we’re feeling very lucky at Monumental.”
Maryland will premiere on ITVX in 2023, months before being broadcast on ITV’s linear channel.
