Cast confirmed for TV version of Rooney's Conversations with Friends

Actors Alison Oliver, Sasha Lane, Jemima Kirke and Joe Alwyn are to star in the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney's novel, Conversations with Friends (Faber).

Element Pictures, the production company behind the BBC adaptation of Rooney's Normal People, has confirmed that the production team will include director Lenny Abrahamson and writer Alice Birch, both of whom worked on the highly successful "Normal People" drama series.

The new 12-part drama is being released for BBC Three in partnership with Hulu.

Conversations With Friends follows Frances, played by newcomer Oliver. Oliver graduated from the Lir Academy, the same drama school "Normal People" star Paul Mescal attended. Playing the role of 21-year-old college student Frances, she navigates a series of relationships that force her to confront her own vulnerabilities for the first time.

Frances is observant, cerebral and sharp. Her ex-girlfriend, now best friend, Bobbi is self-assured, outspoken and compelling. Though they broke up three years ago, Frances and Bobbi are virtually inseparable and perform spoken word poetry together in Dublin. It’s at one of their shows that they meet Melissa, an older writer, who is fascinated by the pair.

Bobbi and Frances start to spend time with Melissa and her husband, Nick, a handsome but reserved actor. While Melissa and Bobbi flirt with each other openly, Nick and Frances embark on an intense, secret affair that is surprising to them both. Soon the affair begins to test the bond between Frances and Bobbi, forcing Frances to reconsider her sense of self, and the friendship she holds so dear.

Lane, who has appeared in "American Honey" and "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" will star as Bobbi, Alwyn ("The Favourite", "A Christmas Carol") as Nick, and Kirke ("Sex Education" and "Girls") as Melissa.

Filming will take place this year in Dublin, Belfast and international locations yet to be confirmed.

Piers Wenger, director of BBC Drama, said: "Lenny's deep affinity for Sally's writing and talent for finding actors to bring her fictional creations to life played a huge part in bringing Normal People so successfully to screen. In casting Alison, Sasha, Joe and Jemima, that same flair and instinct is in evidence and we cant wait to see how they will bring Frances, Bobbi, Nick and Melissa to life."

Abrahamson added: “I feel so excited to be collaborating with four such superb actors to bring Sally’s brilliant novel to the screen. Over the past few months it has been a privilege to work alongside Element Pictures and our extraordinary team of writers to get the scripts to a point where we all feel so excited to start shooting.”