Toni Collette to Lead Cast of Wanderlust

Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine, The Sixth Sense, Miss You Already) has signed on to star in Wanderlust, which is set for BBC One and Netflix.

The six-part drama explores the relationships of a multigenerational family. Joining Collette are Steven Mackintosh (A Song For Jenny, Stan Lee’s Lucky Man, The Halcyon), Zawe Ashton (Fresh Meat, Not Safe for Work, Case Histories) and Royce Pierreson (Line of Duty, Our Girl, Murdered By My Boyfriend).

Commissioned by BBC One and a co-production with Netflix, the series will premiere in the U.K. on BBC One and globally outside of the U.K. on Netflix. Wanderlust is the first television series scripted by award-winning playwright Nick Payne (Constellations, The Sense of an Ending, If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet) and is directed by Luke Snellin (The A Word, Our Girl, My Mad Fat Diary).

Drama Republic (Doctor Foster, King Charles III, The Honourable Woman) is producing.

Collette said: “I am honored and thrilled to work with Nick Payne’s wonderful words on Wanderlust. It is an authentic and revolutionary story about relationships, sex, love and all the things we really care about. I could not be more excited.”

Payne said: “I’m over the moon to be working with Drama Republic, the BBC and Netflix. And the cast—what a galaxy of talent. Toni Collette is an astronomically adept performer, and someone I’ve long admired.”

Roanna Benn and Jude Liknaitzky, executive producers for Drama Republic, added: “Toni was our dream casting choice for Joy—so we are pinching ourselves that it has become a reality. It is such an honor to be producing a show with scripts as exciting as Nick Payne’s and with such a stellar cast and crew.”

Piers Wenger, BBC’s controller of drama commissioning, said: “Toni’s natural warmth, complexity and wit combine to make her the perfect Joy. I’m delighted that she will be leading the cast in this bold and brilliant new series for BBC One. Nick’s scripts strike an utterly distinctive and original tone and I cannot wait to see them come to life in the very capable hands of director Luke Snellin and the outstanding team at Drama Republic.”