A new look at The Miniature Wife
After the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise, one would think they would have that concept cornered. Along comes The Miniature Wife from Peacock. While it looks like the series is likely to capitalize on its plot more than Alexander Payne’s Downsizing did, one can’t help but make comparisons to the Disney classic starring Rick Moranis. However, this is sure to be as good, if not better than the Family Matters episode where Steve Urkel and Carl Winslow accidentally get shrunk down in the Winslow’s kitchen.
The short of it
Based on a short story written by Manuel Gonzales, The Miniature Wife examines the power (im)balances between spouses after a technological accident induces the ultimate relationship crisis. The series comes from Jennifer Ames (Boardwalk Empire) and Steve Turner (Deadwood).
Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games) stars as Lindy, the miniaturized wife, with Matthew Macfadyen (Deadpool & Wolverine) as her husband, Les. The series also stars O-T Fagbenle (The Handmaid’s Tale), Zoe Lister-Jones (Life in Pieces), Sian Clifford (Fleabag), and Sofia Rosinsky (Paper Girls). Ronny Chieng (Crazy Rich Asians), Aasif Mandvi (Evil), Rong Fu (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds), and Tricia Black (Small Achievable Goals) appear in recurring roles.
Banks and Macfadyen also serve as executive producers on the series, alongside Michael Aguilar, Suzanne Heathcote and Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer for Media Res.
All ten episodes of The Miniature Wife will debut on Peacock on April 9.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
When people think of shrinking stories in movies or television, the first title that usually comes to mind is Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, the beloved sci-fi comedy starring Rick Moranis as a well-meaning but perpetually frazzled inventor who accidentally shrinks his own children. The film became a surprise hit, spawning multiple sequels, a television series, and even theme-park attractions—and for years, Hollywood has been trying to bring the concept back to the big screen.
At one point, that revival looked like it was actually going to happen. Josh Gad was set to star as the son of Moranis’ character, following in his father’s footsteps by accidentally shrinking his own kids in a scientific mishap. Original director Joe Johnston was attached to return, and—most excitingly—Rick Moranis had agreed to come out of retirement to reprise his iconic role. The film, titled Shrunk, was nearing production… until the pandemic brought the project to a sudden halt.
“We were inches from starting and then COVID hit,” Gad explained several years ago, “inches from starting again & then my schedule exploded with conflicts, inches from starting again & budget got the best of us.“
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Source:
Peacock
