Just when I thought my watch list couldn’t get any longer, it did. Last week, Netflix unveiled the trailer for its next period piece series, and I am already thoroughly invested. On the first watch of the trailer, I didn’t realize it was an adaptation, but I quickly learned that the series is not only based on a book from 1901, but also on an original movie from the 70s.
My next thought was how brilliant a move this is for Netflix. Here’s why:
Everything You Need To Know About My Brilliant Career
My Brilliant Career is Netflix’s upcoming period piece series set in Australia, releasing on August 13, 2026. The series follows Sybylla, a girl growing up in a rural town in Australia in the early 20th century, with ambitions to become a writer until her plans are disrupted by a budding romance with a young man named Harry.
Production on the series was underway last June in Adelaide, South Australia. Philippa Northeast (Territory, The Newsreader) plays Sybylla, and Christopher Chung (Slow Horses, Blitz) takes on the role of Harry. While many of these actors are new to me, I did recognize Anna Chancellor, who plays Mrs Bossier, as the mother in My Lady Jane. The series was developed by Liz Doran, who also wrote all 6 episodes.
“It’s been a privilege to work with so many incredible creatives on this reimagining of Miles Franklin’s rollicking tale of a young woman’s quest to determine her own life.” — Liz Doran, Netflix
Why This Is a Smart Bet for Netflix
It’s no secret that Netflix has found success with female-driven series, especially those based on existing IP like books (looking at you, Bridgerton). It’s also no secret that every streaming service and production company wants to be at the forefront of adapting classic novels (see the latest 2026 adaptations of Wuthering Heights, Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice).
My Brilliant Career might be over 100 years old, but at its core, it’s a coming-of-age story with no limits on its wisdom. Miles Franklin wrote the book when she was 19, with its main character, Sybylla, closely modelling herself. At the time of publication, the story resonated with many readers in Australia.
‘It came home to me as a great blow that it was only men who could take the world by its ears and conquer their fate, while women, metaphorically speaking, were forced to sit with tied hands and patiently suffer as the waves of fate tossed them hither and thither, battering and bruising without mercy.’ — Author Miles Franklin, National Museum Australia
While many things have changed since then, this story still manages to have a timeless feel for women today. After being withdrawn from publication in 1910, it was republished in 1966 when modern feminism was emerging. Its popularity once exploded again just 13 years later with the Gillian Armstrong-directed film adaptation starring Judy Davis as Sybylla Melvyn and Sam Neill as Harry Beecham. Upon Franklin’s passing, a literary award in her name was also established.
Everyone knows book adaptations are big right now, but there’s also the argument that every popular #booktok book either has the rights snatched up, a release date coming soon, or it’s somewhere stuck in the development phase. My Brilliant Career isn’t on #booktok or anyone’s radar right now, but it’s still a book with existing IP and an original movie. I think it’s a brilliant (no pun intended) way to expand on the existing world of the book’s IP and bring new audiences to its fanbase.
It also checks some pretty good boxes.
Period setting
Strong female lead
Coming-of-age story
6-episode TV series
Romance with substance!
The Bridgerton Effect
Netflix scored a grand slam with Bridgerton. The four-season show (and counting) proved that audiences are hungry for period romances. Back in 2021, season 1 of Bridgerton was watched by a record 82 million households around the world. Season 2 broke the record for the most-viewed title in a week on the English TV list. In its first week, it racked up 251.74 million hours of viewership. Season 3 climbed higher than any other season, and while season 4 had a slight decrease, it wasn’t by much.
Steamy romance, detailed production designs, and rich historical worlds are all things viewers can feel invested in. I think that the success of the series also comes down to the interconnected feel of the stories between the siblings—something that has now been translated in current and future shows such as Off Campus. You get to learn about a character for season after season before they finally get to experience their own love story, and there’s something incredibly comforting about it.
Now, Bridgerton proved that audiences want period romances, but that doesn’t mean we need a Bridgerton look-alike. In my opinion, My Brilliant Career isn’t trying to replace Bridgerton; it’s building off the existing fandom that’s searching for its next period drama. What I love about Bridgerton is the guaranteed happy endings, instrumental pop music, and overall vibe of the show. I can’t say that I’m relating to the show, but it gets an A+ in entertainment. As I’ve discussed in another newsletter, where the show falls flat is its lack of period accuracy in the third season, with fake eyelashes and acrylic nails. The most recent season fixed some of these discrepancies, but it’ll never be perfect. That said, I’m watching for the vibes—not to poke holes in a fictional story. I adore the romance and how different each couple felt, and that’s why I keep watching.
The trailer for My Brilliant Career originally caught my eye from its character perspective instead of the actual romance. Showcasing a very real journey that many women of these times experienced: Entering society in order to marry a man. A modern, independent young writer trying to be forced into a mould she doesn’t fit in sold me on this show. While times are different now, I think the feeling that there’s more to life than marriage is still very relevant for so many women.
Bridgerton touches on this in a different way, but I think My Brilliant Career is something completely new altogether. It almost feels more real and grounded.
My take
I was obsessed from the first 15 seconds of the trailer. Then I read the top comment on YouTube: “Eloise Bridgerton in a not-so-alternate universe,” and now I can’t unsee it. I’ve always found her character remarkable and bold for pushing back against the marital standards of the time. Her intellect and love for reading also made her an easy character to fall in love with. As for their similarities, I guess we’ll have to wait to watch it.
Aside from that, the trailer wowed me from start to finish. The beginning scene gave me the wittiness I expected from the series as a whole. Then Sinner by The Last Dinner Party started playing, and I knew it was going to hit.
Like many trailers these days, it did give away quite a bit, but not to the point of knowing how it will end. The question for the series is, “Will she marry, or risk it all for a creative life?” and honestly, I can see both playing out. I’m excited to see a woman from this time push back on what society wants out of her.
I’ve never seen Philippa Northeast in anything prior, but I’m confident this role was made for her. In an interview with the Women’s Weekly, she said:
“The courage of this particular character, 145 years ago, at a time when women had no rights, was everything. Yet this was a young 18-year-old, full of spirit, full of life, saying I want to live life my own way.” — Phillipa Northeast, Women’s Weekly
Upon getting the role, Northeast studied the source material in detail and was even granted access to Miles Franklin’s journals at the State Library of New South Wales.
[Miles] loudly asks us who we might become if we were brave enough to believe in ourselves. She challenges us to know ourselves honestly and offers us the confidence to pursue a life that feels true to us even if it’s awkward and even when it challenges our societal expectations…more than a century later, her words still remind us that ambition is not arrogance, pants are optional, contradiction is a right of passage and dreaming beyond a life planned for you is worth fighting for.” — Phillipa Northeast, Women’s Weekly
If the trailer didn’t convince me to watch this series, Phillipa herself did. I’m in awe of everything this woman has given to this character.
While I have yet to watch the original film or read the book, the fact of the matter is that audiences tend to love familiar worlds. They might not love it as much as the original, but they know it.
I love that Netflix is balancing their adaptation slate with new and old titles, and I hope this opens the door for everyone to do the same.
ICYMI
…here’s what else is happening in the book world!
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