Apple will be taking a bite out of Emily Dickinson's early years via a new half-hour comedy aptly titled Dickinson. Taking on the role of the esteemed poet will be Hailee Steinfeld. Apple has ordered the show straight-to-series, so there is no need to worry whether it has been picked up or not. As of now, Apple has not indicated how many episodes it has greenlit the series for. Here is what is known about the show so far.
Dickinson will chronicle the early years of Emily Dickinson's life, as she fights to have her "voice heard." Set in the 1800s, the series is said to delve into the limitations of "society, gender, and family" from the coming-of-age Dickinson's point of view. The series is not set to let the era it takes place in keep it from featuring a modern take on its story, per TVLine. It all sounds like meaty material for its star's first starring role in a TV series.
Hailee Steinfeld is mostly known for her work on the silver screen. The actress has a pretty thriving film career with recent credits that include the Pitch Perfect franchise, as well as the Vince Vaughn action film Term Life and the coming-of-age comedy The Edge of Seventeen, the latter of which may help prepare Steinfeld for her role in Dickinson. Her character in The Edge of Seventeen is worlds away from that of the legendary poet, but there may be some ways two young coming-of-age female characters can relate.
In a telling sign of the show's sturdy bones, the behind-the-scenes crew promises to be just as exciting as its star and subject matter. Alena Smith will write and executive produce Dickinson. Smith's writing credits include The Affair -- which she also produced -- and The Newsroom. Taking on directing duties for the series will be Your Highness helmer David Gordon Green, who will also serve as an executive producer on the show. Gordon's experience with both comedies and dramas should provide an interesting influence on the series.
In choosing to approach Emily Dickinson's life as a comedy, you have probably garnered a lot about the show. In other words, fans of costume dramas like Victoria or Poldark should probably not expect a similar tone. Dickinson marks another on-screen adaptation of the poet's life. She was recently captured in the dramatic 2016 biopic, A Quiet Passion. Cynthia Nixon starred as Dickinson in the film.
No release date has been set for Dickinson by Apple. For what else you can stream, check out CinemaBlend's guide to Netflix's upcoming releases via our 2018 Netflix premiere rundown. If you are also interested in the TV content available on Amazon Prime, check out this easy-to-follow guide to all of the new and returning shows set to premiere on the streaming platform in 2018.
