Sharp Objects Trailer: Amy Adams Finds An Unsafe Place In HBO’s Miniseries

The first trailer for HBO’s upcoming Amy Adams-starring limited series, Sharp Objects, has arrived and it’s as unsettling a story as you’d expect from the author of Gone Girl. The miniseries is an adaptation of the novel of the same name from Gillian Flynn, who was in the news recently for signing an overall deal with Amazon. Oddly, that deal was to deliver an adaptation of the U.K. conspiracy series Utopia, which HBO passed on over budgetary concerns, despite having David Fincher on board to direct.

Thankfully, there weren’t any such problems with Sharp Objects, as from the look of the trailer the miniseries has come together to tell a haunting story about psychological trauma and murder. Adams stars as Camille Parker, a reporter who returns to the home she left behind to cover a series of violent murders. The return, as well as the crimes in question, are particularly difficult for Camille who has a history of self harm.

Since Gone Girl, the novel and movie, both of which were written by Flynn, proved to be such a hit, her other work has become sought after by producers and studios. First published in 2006, Sharp Objects was nearly made with Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank, Big Little Lies season 2) planning to adapt in 2008. Since then, the rights were snapped up by Blumhouse Productions, who brought on UnREAL creator Marti Noxon as showrunner. Meanwhile, Big Little Lies season 1 director Jean-Marc Vallée was brought on to direct all eight episodes of the series.

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While the trailer doesn’t get too wrapped up in the plot, it does present a moody atmosphere that’s more than a little unsettling at times. Vallée goes all in on an overwhelming sense of menace in a series of otherwise innocuous moments, at least until Matt Craven mentions to Patricia Clarkson — who plays Camille’s mother, Adora — “We need to talk about your daughters. One of then is dangerous and the other one’s in danger.” The whole thing comes to a creepy crescendo when a young girl’s voice whispers, “It’s not safe for you here.”

In addition to Adams, Clarkson, and Craven, Sharp Objects boasts and impressive cast that includes Chris Messina, Elizabeth Perkins, and IT star Sophia Lillis. As the first of Flynn’s novels but last to be adapted into a film or television series — Dark Places was made into a film starring Charlize Theron in 2015 — this miniseries looks as though it may be another win for Flynn, and a big win for HBO.

Sharp Objects will premiere in July 2018 on HBO.