SJP Returning To Televison Thanks To Irish Writer

Sarah Jessica Parker is making a triumphant return to small screens with a starring role in Divorce, a HBO show from the brain of Irish writer and actress Sharon Horgan.

SJP will be returning to the network responsible for the creation of Sex and the City‘s Carrie Bradshaw in the original drama as the lead and a producer. She’ll be playing a character called Frances who is going through a ‘very, very long? divorce, according to HBO. Her character is dealing with the breakdown of her marriage and navigating a partner-less future she never imagined.

Because this is HBOxSJP, expect a coven of female pals to help our single protagonist cope in this brave new world. Comedic actress Molly Shannon and Mad Men actress Talia Balsam will be on best friend duties. Shannon’s character is married and living a picture perfect life with her husband. Balsam will be ticking the rest of the boxes as a divorced widow.

And who will be playing SJP’s impending ex? The handsome Thomas Haden Church. You may recognise him as the philandering character in that wine movie Sideways. The boring one your aspirational upper-middle-class friend pretended she liked. The two actors previously starred together in Smart People.

It all sounds great, but our favourite fact about the show so far is Irish star Sharon Horgan’s involvement. Horgan recently dealt with an onslaught of critical adoration after the first series of her late-surprise-pregnancy comedy Catastrophe debuted to universal acclaim. Divorce is her first script to be developed by a massive US network. She reacted to the news on Twitter in the same way we probably would.

Holy shit https://twitter.com/hellomerman/status/588798133313937408

? Sharon Horgan (@SharonHorgan) April 16, 2015

We have to say, we love how networks and production companies are all about the slightly-more-mature-than-usual heroine. The Good Wife is considered one of the finest dramas on television and Julianna Margulies is one of the fiercest actresses out there. Sutton Foster’s role in Younger, in which she plays a 40-year-old pretending to be a 26-year-old to break into publishing, is responsible for all the television think pieces this month.

After all, what makes a better heroine than one who has lived a life, but knows there’s another, better one waiting for her? The new fairytale is less about settling down with Prince Charming, and more about setting out on that big adventure.

Deadline

Follow Jeanne Sutton on Twitter @jeannedesutun