In a highly-competitive situation, Netflix has landed the drama “Lovesick” from Sarah Treem with Claire Danes attached in a lead role.
Variety has learned that Netflix has given out a straight-to-series order to the project, which is based on the Israeli series “The Best Worst Thing.” Treem will serve as writer, executive producer, and showrunner. Danes will executive produce in addition to starring. Keshet Studios’ Avi Nir and Keren Shahar also executive produce along with Peter Traugott. Traugott was formerly the head of Keshet Studios, but exited earlier this year to become president of TV at Fifth Season. Universal Television and Keshet Studios will produce.
The official logline for “Lovesick” describes it as a romantic epic “that follows the intense affair between two people whose lives unexpectedly intertwine. Annika (Danes), a renowned breast cancer surgeon, has just received her own cancer diagnosis. Her new patient, Nate, is a promising politician. The series explores their interwoven lives, delving into themes of love, sex, illness, death, family, children, health, medicine, and the meaning of life—all while Annika is simultaneously undergoing breast cancer treatment.”
The role keeps Danes in business with Netflix, as she starred opposite Matthew Rhys in the limited series “The Beast in Me” at the streamer in 2025. That show earned Danes a Golden Globe nomination, with the show also picking up a nod for best limited series.
Danes won two of her three Emmy Awards for “Homeland,” receiving five nominations for best actress in a drama series overall for the show. “Homeland” was also based on an Israeli format. Danes won her other Emmy for the HBO movie “Temple Grandin.” She won her three Golden Globes for “Homeland” and “Temple Grandin” as well. She was nominated for the Emmy and Golden Globe for best supporting actress in a limited or anthology series for the FX drama “Fleishman Is in Trouble.” Her film credits include “The Hours,” “Shopgirl,” and “Romeo + Juliet.”
She is repped by WME, Signpost Management, and Ziffren Brittenham.
“I’m thrilled to get to tell this story with the genius, Claire Danes. We’ve been looking for something to do together for a very long time and this character, Annika, is perhaps a mix of both of our wildest dreams,” Treem said. “To get to tell a story about all the things keeping me up at night anyway – life, death, children, love, middle-age, courage, science and faith – is an extraordinary opportunity I don’t take lightly in these turbulent times. We’re very grateful to Netflix for this significant commitment and we cannot wait to get going.”
Treem is best known for co-creating the critically-acclaimed Showtime series “The Affair” with Hagai Levi. The show aired for five seasons between 2014 and 2019 and starred Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, Joshua Jackson, and Julia Goldani Telles. The show won the Golden Globe for best drama series in 2015. Treem has also worked on shows like “In Treatment” (another Israeli format) and “House of Cards,” the latter of which was also a Netflix show. Up next, Treem is the writer, EP, and showrunner of the FX limited series “Cry Wolf.”
She is repped by CAA and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.
“The Best Worst Thing” was created by Rona Tamir, Tal Granit, and Sharon Maymon for Keshet 12. The series aired in 2024 and starred Ayelet Zurer and Amos Tamam.
Source: variety.com
