Marriage is hard – especially when your partner shrinks to doll-size due to a scientific mishap. Which is exactly what happens to Lindy (Elizabeth Banks) and Les (“Succession” star Matthew Macfadyen) in Sony Pictures Television’s series “The Miniature Wife.”
“I think it’s just a brilliant predicament, isn’t it? It’s a ridiculous thing, but also immediately intriguing. But it’s also about a relationship,” Macfadyen tells Variety ahead of the show’s premiere at Mipcom.
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“The writing is great, really snappy and acidic, but sort of tender as well. It’s like ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Kids’ crossed with ‘Scenes from a Marriage’. When you have something so heightened, it’s thrilling to jump in and see where it leads you.”
Based on the short story by Manuel Gonzalez, “The Miniature Wife” is produced by Media Res (“The Morning Show,” “Pachinko”). Greg Mottola, who directed the first two episodes, is an executive producer alongside Banks, Macfadyen, Michael Aguilar, Suzanne Heathcote, Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer.
Before the tragedy strikes, Lindy and Les – who also have a teenage daughter – are trying to make their decades-long relationship work. As well as their careers.
“When they got together, she was the star of the marriage. She wrote a semi-autobiographical book and won the Pulitzer Prize; then it was made into an Oscar-winning film. Les, a research scientist, was thrilled for her, but he played second fiddle in the relationship,” says Macfadyen.
“It’s highly relatable, but also completely mad. Also, all the relationships here are pretty dysfunctional, which is always my favorite thing to play,” adds Sian Clifford, known for “Fleabag”.
In the show, Clifford plays Lindy’s friend and long-time collaborator. She’s joined by Zoe Lister-Jones, Sofia Rosinsky and O-T Fagbenle (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) as Les’ “science buddy.”
“I’m obsessed with his wife. Understandably so. Forgivably so,” he laughs.
“There’s a big tension there because Les is the genius. I’m the Scottie Pippen to his brilliance and, at the same time, I’m in love with his wife. I don’t know if you’ve been in that situation, but it’s awkward.”
While considerably smaller, Lindy doesn’t exactly soften up post-transformation.
“Elizabeth Banks is very hard to control,” jokes Fagbenle.
“The way she’s playing the part, you don’t feel that Lindy is a victim. She’s so strong and fascinating, and although she’s six inches tall, she has the fortitude to pack quite a punch.” Clifford agrees: “And to still be Les’ equal. That’s the joy of it.”
As things get predictably dark for the struggling couple – and for some unlucky flies that get to experience her rage first-hand – their battles are frequently hilarious.
“They really hit a low in their relationship, even when she’s the size of a dollar bill. It doesn’t make Les hold back at the nadir of their upset and anger with each other. So yeah, it’s pretty bleak. But then it’s ridiculous again,” notes Macfadyen.
“I had a lot of fun playing opposite Elizabeth in a rage. There’s something inherently amusing about someone stamping their feet when they’re so tiny.”
Fagbenle adds: “This absurdity allows you to explore dysfunctional relationships in a way that doesn’t feel too depressing. There are lies, betrayals and there’s deceit, but because it’s housed within this extraordinary world, you engage with it in a different way.”
Once Lindy moves into an actual doll house, things escalate. But the cast had to always play it straight, underlines Macfadyen.
“There’s no other way of doing it. You can’t play it with your tongue in your cheek,” he says.
“You can’t just play ‘the concept’ – otherwise it’d get boring very quickly. I guess that’s what is so interesting, because their relationship is still the same. They’re different sizes, they’re in a different predicament, but they are the same people.”
Still, the miniature universe created by the team made for a joyful experience.
“All these props and sets were super realistic. In a way, it’s another character in the show, this small world, and it was done in a completely original way,” recalls Fagbenle, with Clifford adding: “They had a giant AirPod that became a phone. And a set of Lego stairs! It was pretty amazing.”
In the series, the audience will also meet the characters before the life-changing transformation.
“We dip into their pasts a little. You get to see how things began when there was still all this promise. Episode 9 is going to be really exciting – it’s a flashback episode and that’s pretty wild,” teases Clifford.
Fagbenle says: “It’s a feast for the eyes, but what ultimately drew me to the script were these complex relationships. I think people can be really moved by that: by a daughter who’s estranged from her mother or a husband and wife finding ways to navigate their careers and their love. That’s the meat of it all and that’s the sizzle.”
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