The Weekend Away is a must for your TV lineup, but don't expect this fictional retreat to be status quo.
Sarah Alderson's page-turner is getting the Netflix treatment on Thursday, March 3, and the story of a girls' getaway gone wrong will keep you guessing until all of the secrets are uncovered.
"I want to give people escapism," Alderson told My Imperfect Life about her book-turned film. "I want them to enjoy the journey. I'd like for it to be a very entertaining night in."
We're sold!
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Airing several weeks before Bridgerton season 2, this is the gripping binge-watch you need before indulging in all things romance. The thriller follows two women—Orla and Kate in print, Beth and Kate on-screen—as they venture abroad for some time away from home. However, upon their arrival, things turn dire after a night out when one of the women goes missing...and the other is accused of murder.
With hints of The Flight Attendant and inspiration from Alderson's go-to author, Greg Hurwitz, The Weekend Away promises a stirring experience, but the meaning behind it is about so much more than a vacation from hell (as entertaining as that might be).
Using incentive from her own weekend away in Lisbon with her best friend (which thankfully did not include any life-threatening situations), Alderson pieced together the story readers (and soon viewers) know and love.
'The Weekend Away' cast: who's who?
As far as casting, the author—who also wrote the script for the Netflix film—insists that things came together perfectly.
"I couldn't have picked better people to play the part," Alderson says of the casting. "It was such a treat for me to see my characters actually become real, and they embody them so well."
Here's the main cast:
- Leighton Meester as Beth
- Christina Wolfe as Kate
- Ziad Bakri as Zain
- Luke Norris as Rob
Watch 'The Weekend Away' trailer:
Though the story is a thriller at its core, the author wants readers and viewers to realize how important female friendship is to The Weekend Away—and life, of course.
"Female friends have saved me so many times," the author confesses. "I really treasure my friendships, and I wanted that to come across in the movie."
Like many young women in their 20s and 30s, Alderson also wants her fans to realize that it's OK to not have everything figured out at such an early age.
"The choices you make in your 20s and 30s can sometimes feel like they're the ones that define you for the rest of your life, you know? I think I was trying to suggest that it's OK to question maybe make changes."
We're anxious to see how it all unfolds—the twists, turns, ups and downs—and ultimately how the characters face what comes their way.
"I think [viewers] want to see someone actually succeeding, to overcome these challenges," Alderson says. "It's rewarding."
We'll get the firsthand scoop on March 3. Mark your calendars!
