First look at Sam Neill’s new drama Apples Never Fall with Hollywood star Annette Bening

Honorary Aussie Sam Neill will star opposite a major Hollywood star in a new drama series filmed on the Gold Coast.

Australian author Liane Moriarty has done it again.

Following adaptations of her hit novels Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers, her other bestseller Apples Never Fall has been adapted into a TV series.

The Peacock drama of the same name stars honorary Aussie Sam Neill, 76, and Hollywood sweetheart Annette Bening, 65, and will stream locally on BINGE in March 2024.

But today, the platform gave viewers a sneak peek of what’s to come in a series of first-look images.

Sam Neill and Annette Bening star in the upcoming BINGE drama Apples Never Fall. Picture: Peacock

Based on Moriarty’s New York Times best-selling novel, Apples Never Fall focuses on the picture-perfect Delaney family, headed up by former tennis coaches Stan (Neill) and Joy (Bening).

The couple just sold their famed tennis academy and are ready to live a life of leisure and spend time with their four adult children: Amy (played by Alison Brie), Troy (Jake Lacy), Logan (Conor Merrigan-Turner) and Brooke (Essie Randles).

Stream Big Little Lies on BINGE. New BINGE customers get a 14-day free trial. Sign up at binge.com.au

Neill and Bening play retired tennis coaches Stan and Joy Delaney. Picture: Vince Valitutti/Peacock

In the limited series, Bening’s character Joy disappears. Picture: Peacock

But fate has other plans when a wounded young woman arrives on their doorstep unexpectedly.

The stranger is the breath of fresh air Stan and Joy needed, but when Joy suddenly disappears, their picture-perfect marriage is questioned by their children, who soon uncover dark family secrets.

When the series was first announced in February this year, Moriarty expressed her excitement for the talented leads in a Facebook post.

“I am so thrilled to announce that the amazing ANNETTE BENING will play Joy Delaney in the upcoming television adaptation of Apples Never Fall!” the Sydney-based author wrote.

Days later, when Neill was announced as part of the cast, Moriarty gushed it was “more wonderful news for the upcoming television adaptation”.

The Delaney’s older children are played by (from left to right) Jake Lacy, Essie Randles, Alison Brie and Conor Merrigan Turner. Picture: Vince Valitutti/Peacock

Family secrets are uncovered after Stan’s wife Joy disappears. Picture: Jasin Boland/Peacock

A further announcement revealed Alison Brie – best known for her roles in Mad Men, Glow and Community – would play the eldest daughter, and Jake Lacy will take on the role of eldest son Troy.

Lacy was a breakout in the first season of The White Lotus, where he played privileged and unpleasant newlywed Shane Patton.

Meanwhile, Neill is again showing no signs of retirement despite also battling the rare blood cancer, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.

Stream The White Lotus Seasons 1 and 2 on BINGE. New BINGE customers get a 14-day free trial. Sign up at binge.com.au

Neill is back for Season 2 of the courtroom drama The Twelve.

The Twelve Season 1 also starred Brooke Satchwell.

The Jurassic Park star made his diagnosis public earlier this year, revealing to Australian Story that after chemotherapy failed to work on him, his doctor switched him to an anti-cancer drug which has put him in remission for more than 12 months.

However, Neill said that the drug will stop working eventually.

“I’m prepared for that,” Neill old the ABC program, adding that he is not “remotely afraid” of dying and wants to continue working hard on various projects.

Aside from his upcoming appearance on Apples Never Fall, which was filmed on the Gold Coast earlier this year, Neill is also set to reprise his role as snotty barrister Brett Colby on the Foxtel series The Twelve, which is currently filming in Western Australia.

Apples Never Fall is coming soon on BINGE in March 2024.