The first trailer for Little Disasters, the new psychological thriller coming to Paramount+, is now available. The series stars Diane Kruger and Jo Joyner as two friends whose decade-long bond is destroyed when one is accused of harming her own child.
The six-part limited series is based on the novel of the same name by Sarah Vaughan, whose previous work, Anatomy of a Scandal, was also a hit television adaptation. The show explores the intense pressures of motherhood and the fragile nature of female friendships.
The Story Behind the Crisis
Little Disasters follows four women—Jess, Liz, Charlotte, and Mel—who first met ten years ago in a prenatal group. Their only common ground was their due dates, but they have supported each other through motherhood ever since.
The story is set in motion when Jess, a stay-at-home mother, brings her baby daughter to the hospital with a serious head injury she cannot fully explain. The on-duty doctor in the emergency room is her close friend, Liz. Confronted with an injury that does not match the mother’s story, Liz faces a terrible choice between her professional duty and her personal loyalty. Her decision to call social services begins a chain of events that fractures their friendship and nearly destroys their families.
A Closer Look at the Cast and Characters
The series features a strong ensemble cast, led by Diane Kruger as Jess, a mother grappling with immense internal pressure. Kruger described Jess as a “very complex character” and expressed compassion for her, noting she is “incredibly fierce, and would do anything for her children.”
Jo Joyner plays Liz, the pragmatic pediatrician torn by her responsibility. Joyner said she found the character very relatable and appreciated the show’s focus on difficult topics like post-natal struggles.
The core friend group is rounded out by Shelley Conn as Charlotte, a corporate lawyer, and Emily Taaffe as the free-spirited Mel. The cast also includes the women’s husbands: JJ Feild as Jess’s husband, Ed; Ben Bailey Smith as Liz’s husband, Nick; Stephen Campbell Moore as Mel’s husband, Rob; and Patrick Baladi as Charlotte’s lawyer husband, Andrew.
Behind the Scenes and Production Details
Little Disasters was adapted for television by writers Ruth Fowler and Amanda Duke. The series is directed by Eva Sigurðardóttir, who directed all six episodes. The production is a collaboration between Roughcut Television and Fremantle.
Filming took place in Budapest and London during the summer of 2024. Author Sarah Vaughan also served as an executive producer on the project, helping to guide the adaptation of her book.
Release Schedule for Global Audiences
The show has a staggered release schedule. It premiered in the United Kingdom and Ireland on May 22, 2025. For viewers in the United States, Canada, and other international markets, all six episodes will be available for binge-watching on December 11, 2025, exclusively on Paramount+.
A Story of Motherhood and Perception
The series aims to look past the surface of perfect family lives. As one cast member noted, the show presents “beautiful, successful people” who find themselves “in the shit,” revealing the universal human struggles beneath a privileged exterior. Diane Kruger said the story is loyal to the essence of Sarah Vaughan’s book and promises a slow-burn narrative that “accelerates in a way that leaves you breathless.”
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