After more than three decades of marriage, legendary television writer and producer David E. Kelley has finally done something he jokingly “vowed” he would never do: cast his wife, three-time Oscar nominee Michelle Pfeiffer, in one of his projects. The surprising collaboration is happening for the upcoming Apple TV+ series Margo’s Got Money Troubles, and Kelley is calling Pfeiffer’s agreement to join the show the “second luckiest yes” he has ever received from her.
The award-winning writer-producer, known for creating hit series like Big Little Lies, Ally McBeal, and Presumed Innocent, participated in Apple TV+’s recent press day in Santa Monica alongside the star-studded cast of his latest project. During a panel discussion moderated by author Rufi Thorpe, who wrote the bestselling novel the series is based on, Kelley opened up about the casting process and why he broke his long-standing rule about keeping work and marriage separate .
Kelley revealed that despite being married to Pfeiffer since 1993, he had always avoided putting her in his shows. But the source material for Margo’s Got Money Troubles changed his mind completely. “When I read the book, I could only see one person playing it, and we’re lucky enough that she said yes, the second luckiest yes I’ve gotten from her,” Kelley shared during the discussion, drawing laughter from the audience and his fellow panelists .
The Joke That Finally Came True
The lighthearted moment at the press event highlighted the couple’s dynamic, especially when it comes to their professional lives. When Kelley mentioned his long-standing “vow” never to work with his wife, Pfeiffer was quick with a witty response.
“I’m very difficult,” she interjected with a smile, deflecting the compliment while acknowledging the years of mutual respect that made them avoid collaborating .
For context, this isn’t the first time Pfeiffer has addressed why she and her husband kept their careers separate. In a 2022 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Pfeiffer explained that despite Kelley’s reputation for writing incredible roles for women, she felt working together was “too risky” for their relationship.
“Nobody writes, honestly, better for women than he does. It’s unbelievable. And yet, I value our relationship more than a good part,” Pfeiffer said at the time. “We’re both kind of fierce when we work, so if I didn’t get my way, I’m not sure I could leave it at the office” .
That previous reluctance makes their collaboration on Margo’s Got Money Troubles even more significant. The project marks the first time the power couple has worked together professionally despite Pfeiffer’s decades-long career and Kelley’s status as an 11-time Emmy winner .
What Made ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ the Right Project
According to Kelley, the source material itself made the decision easy. Thorpe’s novel, published in 2024, tells the story of a young woman navigating early motherhood, financial struggles, and an unconventional path to making ends meet.
“[The book] made the casting process so easy, because everyone fell in love with it,” Kelley explained. He noted that several cast members were already attached to the project before he even started writing the adaptation .
Elle Fanning, who stars as the title character Margo, was apparently destined for the role from the beginning. “Elle owned Margo, I think, before I even picked up a pen,” Kelley said .
Nick Offerman, who plays Margo’s estranged father Jinx—an ex-professional wrestler—was similarly enthusiastic. “I think when you and I first talked, Nick, you had read the book, and that was it. You were in without knowing what we were gonna do to it,” Kelley recalled .
For Pfeiffer, the appeal was immediate despite her character’s relatively limited presence in the original novel. She plays Shyanne, Margo’s mother and a former Hooters waitress who brings her own unique perspective to her daughter’s complicated situation.
“She only appears in about 10 pages of the novel, and then she disappears,” Pfeiffer noted during the panel. “But it was enough. I said, ‘This is a gem.’ I was, literally, ‘sign me up’” .
The Story: A Modern Twist on Survival
Margo’s Got Money Troubles centers on a young woman forced to get creative when life throws her multiple curveballs. The official synopsis describes it as “a bold, heartwarming, and comedic family drama” following recent college dropout and aspiring writer Margo (Fanning), who finds herself navigating a new baby, mounting bills, and dwindling options for paying them .
What makes the story particularly timely is Margo’s unconventional solution to her financial problems. With her father Jinx moving in to help with childcare, Margo takes his advice from his wrestling days and launches an OnlyFans account to support herself and her child . The account, run under the persona “Hungry Ghost,” becomes her unlikely path to financial stability .
The teaser trailer, released in early February, offers glimpses of Margo’s struggles—including a scene where her debit card is declined at a grocery store while buying diapers, leading her to collapse on the floor of Bloomingdale’s. Her mother Shyanne’s response captures the character’s no-nonsense attitude: “There are no victims in Bloomingdale’s” .
The All-Star Cast and Creative Team
Beyond Fanning, Pfeiffer, and Offerman, the series boasts an impressive ensemble that reads like a who’s who of Hollywood talent. Nicole Kidman, who has worked with Kelley multiple times on projects like Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, and The Undoing, both stars in and executive produces the series .
Kidman plays a mediator between Margo and her ex-boyfriend Mark, who also happens to be her former English professor. Michael Angarano takes on the role of Mark, adding another layer of complexity to Margo’s already complicated life .
The supporting cast includes Thaddea Graham as Margo’s roommate Susie, Greg Kinnear as Kenny (Shyanne’s religious boyfriend), Marcia Gay Harden in a guest role, and musician Rico Nasty making her acting debut. Lindsey Normington and Michael Workèyè round out the cast in recurring roles .
Behind the camera, the creative team is equally impressive. Dearbhla Walsh directs the pilot and serves as an executive producer, with Kate Herron (Loki) and Alice Seabright (Sex Education) also directing episodes . The series comes from A24, the studio behind acclaimed projects like Euphoria and Everything Everywhere All At Once .
The Fanning sisters are also heavily involved behind the scenes. Dakota Fanning executive produces alongside her sister Elle through their production company Lewellen Pictures. The sisters reportedly pitched the adaptation to author Rufi Thorpe over Zoom, describing it as an “epic dramedy” . Kidman executive produces through her Blossom Films banner alongside Per Saari .
Release Details and Global Availability
Margo’s Got Money Troubles is scheduled to premiere globally on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, exclusively on Apple TV+ .
The streaming service will release the first three episodes on premiere day, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through the season finale on May 20, 2026 .
For viewers around the world, the series will be available in the same weekly rollout pattern across all regions where Apple TV+ operates. This includes:
- United States: Available on Apple TV+ starting at 12:00 AM ET / 9:00 PM PT (April 14)
- United Kingdom: Available on April 15 through Apple TV+
- Canada: Available on April 15 through Apple TV+
- Australia: Available on April 15 through Apple TV+
- India: Available on April 15 through Apple TV+
The series will be accessible through the Apple TV app on various devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, smart TVs, and streaming sticks, as well as online at tv.apple.com .
From Book to Screen: The Journey
The adaptation has been in the works since Apple TV+ won a competitive bidding war for the rights to Thorpe’s novel . Kelley came on board as showrunner and writer, continuing his productive relationship with the streamer after Presumed Innocent .
Thorpe, who also serves as an executive producer on the series, expressed her excitement about the cast during the press day panel. She described the series as a “bold and acerbic” take on “the sacrifices we make as mothers and using your goods to get by.” She added that when she wrote the book, she “could not have imagined such a dream cast” embodying the characters who “lived in my head so long” .
Before its streaming debut, the series will have a special premiere at the 2026 SXSW Film & TV Festival on March 12, where it will serve as the opening night TV premiere . This early screening will give festival audiences a first look at the show ahead of its global release.
What Pfeiffer Brings to the Role
During the press panel, Pfeiffer offered insight into what drew her to finally break her own rule about not working with her husband. Beyond the quality of the writing, she appreciated the collaborative environment the cast built.
“I don’t ever feel like you work on developing a rapport. You either have it, or you don’t,” she explained. “But even from the first table read, when we just sat in a room around a table and we didn’t know each other, and Nick was sitting next to me and I was completely starstruck and very nervous, and, you know, just the mega talent in the room, from Rufi to Mr. Kelley over here, and this cast, this extraordinary cast. So, honestly, we just had fun every day, and every day was discovery” .
She also praised Kelley’s writing specifically, noting that the strength of the material made her job easier. “It’s built on such strong writing. So, all you have to do is really open your mouth and you just have to be smart enough to recognize that it’s really good writing. And you don’t have to do more than that. And I just think that it’s really important to always respect the character that you’re playing” .
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Why This Series Matters Now
The themes explored in Margo’s Got Money Troubles resonate particularly strongly in the current economic climate. As one analysis of the trailer noted, the show offers a refreshing counterpoint to the glut of content focused on wealthy characters and their problems .
“Anyone tired of watching rich people on screen will feel relief while watching the trailer for Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” wrote Den of Geek. The piece highlighted how the show returns to a television tradition of focusing on working-class characters, similar to classic series like Roseanne, All in the Family, and Sanford and Son .
The combination of OnlyFans, professional wrestling, and multigenerational family drama creates a uniquely modern story that reflects how people actually find creative ways to survive when traditional paths fail. With a cast featuring some of Hollywood’s most respected actors, the series is positioned to become one of the most talked-about shows of spring 2026.
For Kelley and Pfeiffer, the project represents not just a professional milestone but a personal one as well—proving that even after 33 years of marriage, couples can still surprise each other.
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