Lady in the Lake Release date, cast, plot, and everything we know so far

Laura Lipman’s 2019 novel, Lady in the Lake is getting a limited TV series adaptation by Apple TV, starring Natalie Portman and Lupita Nyong’o. Although the series is a fictional work, the storyline is heavily inspired by two real-life murders that the author witnessed in her youth.

For Portman, who is widely acclaimed for her roles in Black Swan, Annihilation, and No Strings Attached, Lady in the Lake will be the first TV series where she will be playing. Additionally, Nyong’o, who starred in Black Panther, Queen of Katwe, and Us, will play her first small-screen role.

The series is helmed by Alma Har’el, who is best known for her directorial debut Honey Boy (2019). Follow along to learn more.

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Lady in the Lake will release on June 16, 2024

Natalie Portman in Lady in the Lake (Image via Apple TV)

Lady in the Lake is set to premiere with a double-header debut on Apple TV+ on July 19, 2024. The series will run for seven episodes from July 19 to August 23, 2024. The filming of Lady in the Lake began in April 2022, with production taking place primarily in Baltimore, Maryland, the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

During its filming, the series faced external problems, where the cast and crew decided to halt the production due to looming threats of violence in the city. The film almost got rescheduled and crew members elected to look for another location. However, the police authorities and the Mayor ensured that the filming faced no further issues.

Here’s what Endeavor Content, the production studio behind the film, explained everything that happened during the filming of the TV series adaptation of the novel:

“Friday afternoon, on the Baltimore set of our production ‘Lady in the Lake,’ prior to the arrival of the cast and crew, per their call time, a driver on our production crew was confronted by two men, one of whom brandished a gun directed at our driver, and then they fled the location.”

They further explained how the city tackled the issue:

“We are working with the Baltimore Police Department as the investigation is ongoing. The safety and security of our crew, cast and all who work across our productions is our highest priority, and we are thankful no one was injured. Production will resume with increased security measures going forward."

Further continued with:

"It has been a privilege filming ‘Lady in the Lake’ in Baltimore, working with its vibrant community across many areas. Our thanks and appreciation to the City of Baltimore, Mayor Brandon M. Scott, the Baltimore Film Office, Maryland Film Office and the Baltimore Police Department for their incredible support as we continue production in the great City of Baltimore and surrounding communities.”

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Where to watch Lady in the Lake

Lady in the Lake being a platform original will be streamed exclusively on Apple TV+, which means the limited series won't be available on any other platform, including Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and others.

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Cast and characters

Here’s the list of major and recurring cast in the series:

• Natalie Portman as Maddie Schwartz
• Mike Madison as Judith
• Moses Ingram as Cleo Sherwood
• Y'lan Noel as Ferdie Platt
• Mikey Madison as Judith Weinstein
• Sean Ringgold as The Prophet
• Pruitt Taylor Vince as Bob Bauer
• Byron Bowers as Slappy Dark Johnson
• Samir Royal as Lionel Johnson
• Derek A. Smith as Shell's Crony
• Herman Wilkins as Felix
• Dylan Arnold as Steven Zawadzkie
• Angela Robinson as Myrtle Summer
• Michael Franklin as Hubby
• Selema Masekela as Cedrick
• Ronnie Gene Blevins as Officer Boško
• Katherine Winter as Ethel Cohen
• John Cestone as the Man Who Yawns

Cast in the series whose characters are yet to be announced:

• David Corenswet
• Sonal Jagasia
• Matthew Bernard
• Brett Gelman
• Noah Jupe
• Mike Epps
• Byron Bowers
• Josiah Cross

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Plot summary

Lady in the Lake takes place in 1966 Baltimore, focusing on Madeline Schwartz, aka Maddie, a former housewife who leaves her marriage to pursue a meaningful life. Determined to make a difference, she helps the police in solving a murder, which gets her a job at the Star newspaper agency. Up until her new job, everything has been what everyone calls normal.

However, after landing her new job, she discovers the story of Cleo Sherwood, a young African-American woman, whose death has been overlooked. Maddie decides to dig deeper, and surprisingly her investigation leads her to various individuals from her past.

Despite her ambition, Maddie often overlooks those who care for her and are closest to her, which ultimately causes a rift that she doesn’t expect. However, she is driven to uncover the truth behind Cleo’s life and death, and she won’t stop until she solves the case and leaves a mark on the changing world.

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Stay tuned for more news and updates on all your favorite TV shows and movies as 2024 progresses.