Ella Purnell starts a dark descent into serial killer life in the first trailer forSweetpea. Purnell has now featured in the likes ofYellowjackets(2021-) andArmy of the Dead(2021), most recently appearing in Prime Video’s hit series,Fallout(2024-). Now, she’s set to headlineSweetpea, a darkly comic tale about Purnell’s Rhiannon Lewis, an overlooked girl who attempts to get away with murder. The show hails from creator Kirstie Swain and is based on the 2017 book of the same name by CJ Skuse.
Starznow shares the first trailer forSweetpea, teasing the show’s darkly comedic but violent tone. The footage reveals that Rhiannon struggles in life professionally and romantically, ignored and unappreciated by those around her. Rhiannon seemingly then decides to start killing those who have wronged her, setting her sights on Jessye Romeo’s Anni, a real estate agent, as Leah Harvey’s Marina, a police officer, starts closing in. The trailer also confirms that the miniseries will premiere on August 10, 2025. Check it out below:
Other actors set to appear inSweetpeainclude: Calam Lynch, Nicôle Lecky, Tim Samuels, Dino Kelly, Lucy Heath, Elliot Cable, Jessica Brindle, Alexander Bellinfantie, and Luke McGibney.
What Ella Purnell Leading The Cast Means For Sweetpea
How The Starz Show Will Be Different From Fallout
Though Purnell’s role inYellowjacketshas also been met with praise, she rocketed to a new level of fame with the release ofFalloutearlier this year, in which she plays a sheltered vault-dweller venturing out into an apocalyptic landscape. Reviews were glowing from audiences and critics alike, and the show was a major viewership hit, withFalloutseason 2 now confirmedto be on the way.
Ella Purnell’s 10 Best Movies & TV Shows
Ella Purnell is one of the most promising young talents currently in Hollywood with major hits like Yellowjackets and Fallout under her belt.
Purnell’s role inFalloutis good news forSweetpea, as she could now be enough of a draw on her own to get people to watch the show. The trailer reveals that the Starz series will be far smaller in scale and scope, but Purnell looks to play an even more prominent role in this series than she does in the Prime Video one.Sweetpea, in some ways, could end up allowing Purnell to show off greater range as an actor, as it’s seemingly set to explore Rhiannon’s inner life and struggles in a major way without any sci-fi world-building obligations.
Purnell has also hadroles in projects likeStar Trek: Prodigy(2021-2024),Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children(2016), andNever Let Me Go(2010).
Our Take On The Sweetpea Trailer
Why The Starz Show Is One To Look Forward To
Purnell has proven herself a captivating actor in recent years, andSweetpeahas the added benefit of havingSlow Horses(2022-) andHeartstopper(2022-) producers on board, two shows that have been critically-acclaimed throughout their respective runs.Sweetpeaalso looks to have tonal similarities toThe End of the F***ing World(2017), another darkly comedic British thriller about anguished young people turning to violence, which was a show that I particularly enjoyed.
Purnell’s roles inYellowjacketsandFalloutsee her nailing both powerful dramatic moments as well as moments of comedy, andSweetpeacertainly looks to feature plenty of both. It remains to be seen howSweetpeawill fare with audiences and critics, but it has the makings of a fun and perhaps surprisingly violent ride.
