Big Hugs for Dear Edward | FilmInk

Following in the footsteps of hit TV series like Lost, Manifest, and Yellowjackets – Katims immediately saw the potential in Ann Napolitano’s 2020 novel Dear Edward, gathering some of TV’s most compelling actors to star in this small screen adaptation.

At the centre of the story is 12-year-old Edward (Colin O’Brien), the sole survivor of a devastating commercial plane crash in Colorado, quickly dubbed as “the miracle boy” by a hungry media. With his parents and older brother all dead, he moves in with his Aunt Lacey (Taylor Schilling) and Uncle John (Carter Hudson).

As Edward navigates the emotional trauma of losing his entire family, we meet others who are also mourning the loss of loved ones, all connected through a grief group.

Katims was instantly moved by the story and the idea of a hope born out of tragedy.

“What was so unexpected were the relationships that developed, in particular between Edward and his neighbor Shay [Eva Ariel Binder],” recalls Katims.

But the writer/creator didn’t want to merely focus on the core characters as outlined in Napolitano’s best-seller, asking permission to expand her world and create new players that are connected to, but not in Edward’s immediate circle.

His first thought was to re-team with his former Friday Night Lights star Connie Britton, casting her as Dee Dee, a grieving widow now faced with putting together the pieces of her late husband’s secret life.

He then brought on Anna Uzele as Adriana and Idris Debrand as Kojo, a couple who connect through the mutual loss of loved ones.

“This is a show about people growing and the bravery they might not have known was inside them,” says Katims. “As tragic as the plane crash is, new families are formed, and it reminds you just how surprising and beautiful life can be when you least expect it.”

Chosen from scores of young talent to play the key role of Edward, at 13 years old, O’Brien is already a veteran of countless commercials, appearing in last year’s John Lee Hancock/Stephen King adaptation Mr Harriman’s Phone and upcoming movie, Wonka, playing the younger version of Timothée Chalamet’s title character.

“He’s a spectacular actor who is wise beyond his years. While he brings such a natural gift to the work, he is an incredibly hard worker and very dedicated to his craft,” says Katims. It didn’t hurt that O’Brien had already received piano lessons, although he did have to learn a complicated Chopin piece for his role.

Schilling easily bonded with him, even though many of their scenes are fraught, as Edward rejects her as his aunt.

“I felt bad having to be mean to Taylor in some of the scenes,” says the polite young actor. His role led to many profound grown-up discussions about the nature of life with his co-star.

“From working on this story, I learned that life isn’t always what you expect and there are different things that will happen, and you’ll have to adjust. That really helped me think, and I guess come to terms with that,” says O’Brien.

“And I think stress and uncertainty can build up and make life more difficult and so it’s good to be realistic and try to keep an open mind and be brave,” he adds.

Schilling agrees. “It’s a part of the human condition to really have no idea where life is taking us and as much as our best laid plans, things change and it’s a very human experience to say, ‘I think my life is gonna go this direction and I really want it to look like this,’ and then all of a sudden realising that those dreams are gone,” she says.

“So, then we have to change in whatever capacity. And the bravery of finding love and connection and joy in the present moment in life and reality exactly as it is, that’s what I think so many of us are struggling with right now. But I think fundamentally, this show is about how to meet life on life’s terms, and not resist it. Not only not resist it, but find love and surrender and acceptance in life as it is,” says the actress who also featured in films The Lucky One and Argo.

Katims had longed to work with Britton ever since Friday Night Lights wrapped in 2011 after five seasons.

The pair spoke a lot about the nature of grief, loss and hope.

“I have learned from experience that the only way to get through grief is with a sense of humour,” says Britton, whose other popular TV roles include The White Lotus, Nashville and Dirty John.

“I think sometimes we get it wrong when we tell stories of grief and it was important to me that with Dee Dee, she really hold onto the idea of hope in everything she was doing. I love telling stories where we have veils to begin with and then watch as those stories get unraveled and the veils open, so we know ourselves better,” she says.

“Connie has a brilliant way of making you laugh and making you feel in the same moment,” says Katims. “It’s quite something and there is nobody else that could have ever played this role that was so full of life and in so much pain.”

While Dear Edward is wildly entertaining, Britton hopes the show offers a lifeline to anyone struggling.

“I hope it will help people feel not alone. Because of course, when you go through a great grief or great loss, you feel something has been stripped away from you. So, my hope is that the quality of the way this story is told, will remind people that they’re not alone, and that in fact, community is important and finding a way to know that you can’t stand on your own; it’s important to find support in some way. And at the same time, you’re stronger than you think you are.

“I think that what we see in all of these characters is a strength, even in their huge losses; they discover in themselves a strength that they didn’t realise they had – which is what allows them to move on in their lives,” says the actress whose wealthy character has previously been immune to life’s slings and arrows – always able to pull out a credit card to make her feel better.

As Dee Dee, she dispenses hugs wherever she goes – whether asked for or not.

Admittedly, she’s the same in real life.

“I’m a big hugger,” she laughs. “I probably put some of that in just because that’s how I am personally! But yeah, I’m a big hugger. There’s a certain privilege in being a hugger; it implies having a certain level of love in your life. And Dee Dee is a very privileged character and so that’s why I thought that it would be appropriate for her to be a hugger.

“I also wanted to recognise that even though she is very attached to all her material things, she still has a very big open heart. That’s what I was going for with that,” she says.

The first three episodes of Dear Edward premiere on Apple TV+ on Feb 3