Earlier this year, Peacock announced that Jessica Biel would star in and executive produce The Good Daughter, a psychological thriller based on Karin Slaughter’s bestselling novel about two sisters who survive a brutal crime that shatters their family and uncovers dark secrets. Unfortunately, it seem that this is no longer the case as the Emmy award-nominated actress has dropped out of the project. The limited series was picked up by the NBCU streaming service in March, with Slaughter writing all episodes and executive producing with Biel.
Biel was set to play the role of Charlotte Quinn, and casting is now underway to find a replacement. According to Deadline, the reason for her departure from the miniseries is unknown at this time. She signed on to star in and executive produce The Good Daughter with Michelle Purple for Iron Ocean, along with Fifth Season and Bruna Papandrea’s Made Up Stories. There is currently no release date for the series, and it is unknown how badly Biel’s exit will delay production.
Peacock describes The Good Daughter as a “suspenseful crime drama.” Slaughter’s twisty novel follows sisters Charlotte and Samantha Quinn, who have spent the last 28 years trying to rebuild their lives after a violent traumatic event. According to NBC, casting for the role of Samantha is currently underway. Here’s the official synopsis:
“When another attack splinters the small town of Pikeville, Charlotte is the first witness on the scene Now a lawyer like her father, she’s forced to confront her own demons as the case twists through one shocking revelation after another. In the end, both she and Samantha find themselves wondering if the price of being the good daughter was worth it, after all.”
Jessica Biel Has Become a Small Screen Staple
The Good Daughter is the latest of Slaughter’s works to be adapted for television. Her novel Pieces of Her became a hit Netflix original series and Will Trent, based on her popular book series, airs on ABC and streams on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally. Slaughter discussed the inspiration and process behind The Good Daughter in a 2017 interview with PBS Books, saying:
“We do talk about violence and criminal acts, but it’s in service of a greater story. And when I wrote this book, I was very conscious that it could almost be a Victorian novel, because it talks about family, society, rich and poor, rural versus urban, have versus have not. The Quinns in this town I created, they’re the weird people in town because they don’t think the way everybody else thinks. But the fact is … every small town has the family that doesn’t belong and that’s what makes them belong.”
Jessica Biel rose to fame as the reverend’s daughter in 7th Heaven, which debuted in 1996 on The WB and aired for ten seasons, and has since starred in dozens of films and series. In recent years, Biel has taken on the role of television producer, and her notable credits include the true-crime series Candy, Limetown, Cruel Summer, and The Sinner, based on Petra Hammesfahr’s acclaimed novel. Biel will also EP and star opposite Elizabeth Banks in the upcoming Prime Video series The Better Sister, based on the novel by bestselling author Alafair Burke.
Biel’s starring role in season one of The Sinner garnered nominations for both a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. Fans can next catch her alongside Ethan Hawke and Daniel Radcliffe in Batso, the true story of a trio of pioneering climbers from the 1970s who tackled the most challenging route up El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.