In our oversaturated streaming world of today, books remain key source materials for television and film adaptations. They come with characters, stories, and worlds already established; all the filmmakers need to do is translate them to the screen. But, of course, we never really know what we will get with these adaptations. They might literally translate the source material, page by page and scene by scene. Other works might use the source material as a general guide, using it to tell anew and different story. But, regardless of how filmmakers approach the subject, if a movie or TV show adapts a well-known title, it will likely be a hit with audiences.
Viewers looking fora new book-to-TV storyshould look to Apple TV+. They are turning to the world of the page for theupcoming comedy seriesThe Big Door Prize. Based on the same-named novel by M.O. Walsh, the show tells the story of a mysterious machine that appears in a small town and predicts the ultimate destiny of each of the town’s residents. The project hails from David West Read, best known for his work as a writer and producer onSchitt’s Creek. Quite the big comedy shoes to fill, right?
WillThe Big Door Prizestick closely to Walsh’s novel? Or will it go off on its own and tell a new story? Let’s look at everything we know.
The Big Door Prize: The Plot
To get an idea of what we might see from the TV show, let’s take a quick look at theplot of Walsh’s novel.The Big Door Prizecenters on the residents of the small town of Deerfield, Louisiana. Their lives are upended when the DNAMIX machine mysteriously appears in the town’s grocery store. For just two dollars, residents can take a DNA swab, and the DNAMIX machine will use that swab to tell the residents their life’s potential. As word spreads, the town’s residents begin to change their careers to whatever the machine predicts for them. The novel’s main character, Douglas Hubbard, believed he was genuinely content with his life until the machine made him question everything.
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From what we know about theTV series' plot, it appears to stick closely to the source material. The show will be set in small-town Deerfield, Louisiana, where the appearance of a mysterious destiny-altering machine changes the lives of everyone in the town. The lead character of Dusty (changed from Douglas in the novel) lives an average, unremarkable life as a teacher and family man. However, the sudden appearance of the machine and its promise to reveal one’s destiny makes Dusty question everything in his life, including if he is truly happy.
One advantage thatThe Big Door Prizehas in its favor is the fact that it is a TV series. Often, when novels jump to film, some plot details must be omitted or reduced to fit the film’s shorter running time. A TV series allows for more time to explore the story and develop the characters. While this is one possible avenue, we’ll have to wait until the show is released to see how closely it follows the novel. It could lead to morebeloved book seriesjumping to TV if successful.
The Big Door Prize: The Cast
Chris O’Dowd leads the series cast as Dusty Hubbard, the “everyman” lead character who questions all of his life choices after the arrival of the machine. Gabrielle Dennis ofA Black Lady Sketch Showplays Cass, Dusty’s wife. Like her high school sweetheart Dusty, Cass seems content with her domestic life until the machine sends her on a journey of self-discovery.
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Actor Damon Gupton plays Father Rueben, chaplain of the local high school. While everyone looks to him for spiritual guidance, he privately goes through his own crisis. Josh Segarra ofArrowis Giorgio, a restaurant owner and former hockey player who is the most eligible bachelor in Deerfield. Newcomer Sammy Fourlas is Jacob, a worker at the general store who is struggling to get by after the death of his twin brother.
Superman and Lois’s Djouliet Amara plays Trina, the bright daughter of Dusty and Cass who is dealing with feelings of guilt. Actor Ally Maki is playing Hana, an emotionally distant bartender who finds herself drawn into the center of the town’s drama. Crystal Fox ofBig Little Liesplays Izzy, the attention-seeking mother of Cass and the long-serving mayor of Deerfield.
Additional cast members will likely be revealed closer to the release date.
Release Date
The Big Door Prizeis set to premiere on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, March 29, with the first three episodes of the season. Following this, the show will release one new episode every subsequent Wednesday until the season finale on May 10. The first season is set to consist of nine episodes in total.
Viewers should not worry aboutThe Big Door Prizeending on a potentially unresolved cliffhanger, as the show has already received a second season order.
