Kit Harington’s New Drama Is a Sumptuous Mash-Up of Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey
Kit Harington is diving back into TV with Count My Lies, a psychological thriller adapted from the novel that fuses Game of Thrones grit with Downton Abbey intrigue.
Kit Harington is back in rich-people-with-secrets territory. He just signed on for Hulu's limited series 'Count My Lies' - a glossy psychological thriller set in New York that sounds like it swaps dragons for private school tuition and summer houses. Think posh, perfect-on-paper couple, and the nanny who walks in and kicks the hornet's nest.
The setup
'When compulsive liar Sloane Caraway fakes her way into a nanny job for the dazzling Violet and Jay Lockhart, she thinks she finally nailed it. But the house is loaded with secrets ready to blow - and everyone could get scorched.'
Harington plays Jay Lockhart - wealthy, charming, and married into the kind of New York life that photographs well: a brownstone, a daughter enrolled in private school, summers on Block Island. Obviously, it is not that simple behind the front door.
Who is playing who
Shailene Woodley leads as Sloane, the nanny with an inventive relationship to the truth. Lindsay Lohan is Violet Lockhart, Jay's wife. This is Lohan's first TV role, and she was the first piece of the puzzle back in April, per Deadline; Woodley joined in August; Harington's casting is the latest update.
The people behind it
The series comes from Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger - the former This Is Us executive producers and co-showrunners. It is based on Sophie Stava's debut novel, published in March of this year. 20th Television is producing along with Aptaker, Berger, and their banner The Walk-Up Company. Scott Morgan is also on board to produce, per TV Insider. Woodley and Lohan are executive producing in addition to starring.
Early chatter
Fans are split. Some are excited about the trio of Harington, Woodley, and Lohan - lots of 'this screams binge-worthy' and 'we will absolutely be seated.' Others think the premise sounds very close to 'The Housemaid' - several posts specifically name Sydney Sweeney, with one person asking if Hollywood is dry for recycling this setup. To be fair, nanny-or-housekeeper-walks-into-a-shiny-nightmare has been a reliable thriller lane for years. The hook here is the cast and whether this adaptation finds its own bite.
The essentials at a glance
- Title: 'Count My Lies' - Hulu limited series
- Leads: Kit Harington as Jay Lockhart; Shailene Woodley as Sloane Caraway; Lindsay Lohan as Violet Lockhart
- Creative team: Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger (This Is Us) - creators and executive producers
- Source material: Based on Sophie Stava's debut novel, released March this year
- Producers: 20th Television; The Walk-Up Company; Scott Morgan producing
- EPs: Shailene Woodley and Lindsay Lohan also executive produce
- Vibe: Psychological thriller about a 'perfect' New York couple and the nanny who exposes the cracks
- Status: No release date yet
Bottom line: great cast, juicy premise, and the kind of elegant, messy drama that lives or dies on execution. No premiere date yet, but keep it on your radar.