Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Biel to Lead Amazon Thriller ‘The Better Sister’

Elizabeth Banks and Jessica Biel are going to play siblings in a new Amazon series.

The online retailer/streamer has handed out a series order for The Better Sister, based on the book of the same name by Alafair Burke.

The thriller revolves around Chloe (Biel), who moves through the world with her lawyer husband Adam and teenage son Ethan by her side while her estranged sister Nicky (Banks) hustles to make ends meet while trying to stay clean. When Adam is brutally murdered, the prime suspect sends shockwaves through the family, laying bare long-buried secrets.

Banks and Biel will also exec produce the series.

“Beyond being an enticing thriller full of twists and turns, The Better Sister is a gripping story about family feuds and forgiveness,” says Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon MGM Studios. “The brilliant duo of Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks are sure to bring these characters to life in the most authentic way alongside Olivia, Regina, Craig, and the talented team at Tomorrow Studios. The series is in the best hands to bring Alafair Burke’s original IP to life for our global Prime Video customers.”

The series hails from Tomorrow Studios, with Olivia Milch (Ocean’s 8) and Regina Corrado (Mayor of Kingstown) set to serve as showrunners. Both will exec produce alongside Banks, Biel and Craig Gillespie, with the latter also set to direct.

“We are ecstatic to be adapting Alafair Burke’s captivating novel into a television series with Prime Video; this has been a true labor of love for the entire team at Tomorrow Studios,” said Marty Adelstein, Tomorrow Studios Founder/CEO, and Becky Clements, president/partner. “The intricacies of sisterhood at every age are a dynamic we are all excited to explore inside of a taut thriller. It is a privilege to be working with showrunners as talented as Olivia Milch and Regina Corrado on the first project in our new venture with incomparable director and EP Craig Gillespie. We all feel so lucky to have landed Jessica and Elizabeth as our starring sisters and collaborators — a tour de force matchup in this propulsive new series.”

“We are so grateful to Tomorrow Studios for supporting us as we’ve explored the world of this family,” said Olivia Milch and Regina Corrado, executive producers and showrunners. “Craig Gillespie, who tells vital and bold stories of people willing to go to extremes, brought the perfect vision for the series. And we couldn’t feel luckier to have Jessica and Elizabeth, who have awed us with their rich and layered work, as partners bringing these sisters and their secrets to life.”

Biel’s recent TV credits include Hulu’s Candy and Peacock’s The Sinner. Banks most recently starred in FX’s Mrs. America and exec producing Shrill and Pitch Perfect offshoot Bumper in Berlin.