Pretty Little Liars star Lucy Hale and Hannibal alum Raul Esparza are among six new names cast in the FX pilot of The Answers, an upcoming adaptation of the bestselling novel by Catherine Lacey. Hale and Esparza join Krys Marshall, Melanie Field, Pallavi Sharda, and Kineta Kunutu alongside previously-announced lead David Corenswet in the new series pilot created by Kit Steinkellner, Danny Strong, Darren Aronofsky, and 20th Television.
In a story that’s been compared to The Handmaid’s Tale, FX’s adaptation of Catherine Lacey’s The Answers will tell the story of Mary (Lucy Hale), a heartbroken young woman who signs up for a mysterious experiment that claims to be able to “hack love,” according to the official logline. However, after Mary moves in with all of the other female participants in an idyllic but secluded location set by the program, all the women realize that they’ve all been simultaneously dating the same man: Christopher Skye, played by David Corenswet (We Own This City).
Lucy Hale, Raul Esparza, and Four Others Join ‘The Answers’ on FX
Lucy Hale, fresh off her role as Amelia in The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, will play Mary, who – in the novels – is an indebted 30-year-old whose entire life has “rented or given to someone else,” per a New York Times review. Hale is best known for her role as Aria Montgomery on the TV series Pretty Little Liars, a role she held between 2010 and 2017.
Raul Esparza, who appeared as Dr. Fredrick Chilton in Hannibal, joins the FX pilot of The Answers as Dr. Crowe, a scientist in charge of the mysterious program. Mary’s fellow participants will include Krys Marshall (For All Mankind) as Ellis, Melanie Field (Heathers) as Dani, and Pallavi Sharda (Tom and Jerry: The Movie) as Ash. Kineta Kunutu (The Blacklist) will appear as Nick, per Deadline.
The FX pilot of The Answers was written by Kit Steinkellner, who will also serve as an executive producer alongside Danny Strong and Darren Aronofsky, with Mady Savafi for Danny Strong Productions and Ari Handel and Elizabeth Gesas for Aronofsky’s Protozoa Pictures. Gillian Robespierre will also direct, and executive produce the pilot, which is being produced under 20th Television.
More information on the FX adaptation of The Answers, starring Lucy Hale, Raul Esparza, and others, will likely become available as the pilot continues development.
