The highly anticipated series Lessons in Chemistry is set to be the perfect cozy, feel-good drama for fall.
Based on the bestselling and extremely popular novel by Bonnie Garmus, Apple TV+ is bringing everyone's favorite summer read of 2022 to the silver screen.
It's part revenge comedy, part inspirational tale. The story was so compelling that Apple TV+ greenlit the television series in January 2021 — a whole year and four months before the novel even arrived at bookstores.
Set in the 1950s, Lessons in Chemistry untangles how living in a patriarchal society forces women to claim their own voices and encourages them to challenge the status quo and never underestimate their full potential.
It follows Elizabeth Zott — played by Oscar-winner Brie Larson — whose dream is to be a scientist, despite the confines placed on her in the male-dominated field. She loves her career at a research lab, in spite of the constant sexist digs.
But soon she finds herself pregnant, alone and wrongfully terminated from her job. While desperate to get back into the lab, Zott instead gets a job as a TV cooking show host, which she uses to teach a nation of neglected housewives their true worth.
The first two episodes will premiere Oct. 13, with the following six episodes debuting every Friday until the end of November.
But who's on the cast list for this upcoming series? Here's a roundup of the confirmed cast:
Brie Larson as Elizabeth Zott
Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic
The captivating, zealous and quirky scientist-turned-television-host Elizabeth Zott is played by Marvel sweetheart Brie Larson. This is her first starring role in a television series in more than a decade. And the Academy Award-winning actor is also bringing her off-stage experience to the series, as she's one of the executive producers.
Though Larson grabbed her Oscar from her performance in the suspense Room (2015), she's probably best known as Capt. Carol Danvers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She first gained superpowers in Captain Marvel (2019), but her Hollywood career started a long time ago.
She's been acting since she was young, infusing her comedy sense and athletic butt-kicking abilities into the silver screen for decades. Larson has a ton of credits to her name, including Envy Adams in the fantastical comedy Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), Mason Weaver in the action adventure Kong: Skull Island (2017) and, most recently, Tess in the latest installment from the Fast and Furious franchise.
Lewis Pullman as Calvin Evans
Unique Nicole/FilmMagic
Leading lady Elizabeth Zott certainly doesn't need a man, but she ends up falling for fellow chemist Calvin Evans anyway. If you've read the novel, you know it definitely wasn't love at first sight between the pair. But we're expecting actor Lewis Pullman, best known for stealing scenes in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), to entice fans anyway.
In fact, Lessons in Chemistry showrunner told Vanity Fair that Pullman's character was actually written into more episodes than first planned after seeing his captivating performances. Just in the last year, Pullman has made waves at film festivals with his complex portrayal of pastor Owen Taylor in The Starling Girl (2023) and of Todd Stevens in The Line (2023).
But despite all the acclaim he's receiving, Pullman said it was still nerve-racking to work opposite A-lister Larson.
"[She] took the time and care to make sure I was bringing to life the version of Calvin I connected to most," he said. "Every day, it was a battle of convincing myself it was totally normal and not a big deal."
Aja Naomi King as Harriet Sloane
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Up against the patriarchal world, single mother Elizabeth finds support from her neighbor and friend, Harriet Sloane. And Sloane, played by Aja Naomi King, may need some friendship and comfort as well.
King told Women's Wear Daily that working with all women directors and a women-majority crew during production for Lessons in Chemistry was a game changer on and off set.
"It just felt so great to be working on something and knowing the creatives behind it wanted it to be from this point of view, and wanted to amplify not only the opportunity for these women, but believed in their ability to craft this story," she said.
King earned widespread acclaim for her performance as student lawyer Michaela Pratt in the award-winning drama How to Get Away With Murder alongside actress Viola Davis. But she has also starred as Lisa in Boxing Day (2021) and Blythe Brown in A Little White Lie (2023), among numerous other titles.
Stephanie Koenig as Fran Frask
Leon Bennett/WireImage
Red-haired beauty Stephanie Koenig will take on the role of Fran Frask, a secretary at the lab where Elizabeth and Calvin work, Hastings Research Institute.
Though her resumé is stacked with credits guest starring on various television shows, she's most known for playing Sabrina Oznowich in the award-winning dramedy series The Flight Attendant alongside Kaley Cuoco. Koenig also starred as Karen on the mini-series The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo and as Bushilla Strasshola in the action parody A Spy Movie (2021).
Thomas Mann as Dr. Boryweitz
Ernesto Di Stefano Photography/WireImage
At Hastings, Elizabeth is surrounded by chemists who are less talented and intelligent than she is. One of her lab mates, Dr. Boryweitz, is one of those chemists, played by award-winning actor Thomas Mann.
He's probably best known for starring as awkward high schooler Greg in the dramedy Me and Earl and The Dying Girl (2015) or as party boy Thomas in the comedy Project X (2012). But those films only scratch the surface of his long list of credits. Most recently, he starred as the part-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers in the series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.
Derek Cecil as Dr. Robert Donatti
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
In the 1950s, most women likely had to face patronizing bosses day in and day out. And in Lessons in Chemistry, Hastings director Dr. Robert Donatti, played by Derek Cecil, certainly puts Elizabeth through endless scrutiny.
Cecil first made waves in Hollywood when he starred opposite Mark Ruffalo in the short-lived series The Beat in 2000. Since, he's grabbed a number of other roles, including as Seth Grayson in the popular drama House of Cards.
Patrick Walker as Reverend Wakely
Michael Kovac/Getty Images for STARZ
The fifth-generation minister and Calvin's old pen pal, Reverend Wakely, played by Patrick Walker, brings a spiritual element to a very scientific novel. And he even makes an interesting connection with Elizabeth's young daughter.
Walker has secured a number of background parts, guest roles and features in movies over his career of more than a decade in the entertainment industry. Among his many credits, Walker played Micah Stevens on the medical drama The Resident and Frank Wills in the mini-series Gaslit.
Ashley Monique Clark as Martha Wakely
IMDB/Paul Gregory
Though not a character in the novel, Ashley Monique Clark will take on the role of Reverend Wakely's wife, Martha.
Clark has worked as an actress since booking her first commercial at age 5. Her talent was quickly recognized, earning her the long-standing role of Sydeny Hughley in the 1990s sitcom The Hughleys. Since that ended in 2002, Clark has grabbed a myriad of roles, including as Aretha Johnson in the romantic comedy Love Don't Cost a Thing (2003).
Kevin Sussman as Walter Pine
Emma McIntyre/WireImage
Though the majority of men in Elizabeth's life underestimate or belittle her, Walter Pine — portrayed by Kevin Sussman — stands apart. His character stands up for Elizabeth, maybe because he's also a single parent.
Sussman has found success in Hollywood both behind and in front of the camera. He's largely an actor, but he also tried his hand at writing with the film Dark Minions (2013). On camera, he's largely recognizable as the awkward comic book store owner Stuart Bloom from the award-winning sitcom The Big Bang Theory.
Beau Bridges as Wilson
Laurent KOFFEL/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
Wilson, played by Beau Bridges, is a mysterious liaison from the well-endowed Parker Foundation, which plays a part in Elizabeth and Calvin's journeys.
Bridges is a Hollywood mainstay, first grabbing a major gig while he was still in college and finding steady work ever since. In one of his best-known roles, Beau played a brother to his actual brother's character in The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989).
He's a three-time Emmy winter, two-time Golden Globe winner and one-time Grammy Award winner.
Check out Lessons in Chemistry, premiering Oct. 13.
