‘Inventing Anna’ trailer previews Netflix series about scamming New York socialite

Inventing Anna
(Image credit: Netflix)

The official trailer for Inventing Anna claims that “This is a completely true story … except for the parts that are totally made up.” This is a perfect tagline for the latest Netflix series from TV producer extraordinaire Shonda Rhimes. Inventing Anna fictionalizes the story of Anna Delvey / Anna Sorokin, a New York socialite who scammed the elite out of millions of dollars. The limited episode series is set to launch on Netflix on Feb. 11.

Based on the New York Magazine article by Jessica Parker titled “How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People,” Inventing Anna will follow Vivian (a journalist based on Parker), as she conducts interviews with both the individuals that have been impacted by Anna’s charms and schemes and Anna herself, with flashbacks recounting her misdeeds.

Headlining the Inventing Anna cast are Anna Chlumsky (Veep) as Vivian and Julia Garner (Ozark) as Anna. Joining them in the cast are Arian Moayed (Succession), Laverne Cox (Orange is the New Black), Anders Holm (Workaholics, The Mindy Project), Katie Lowes (Scandal), Terry Kinney (Billions), Jeff Perry (Scandal, Grey's Anatomy), Anna Deavere Smith (Nurse Jackie), Alexis Floyd (The Bold Type), Marika Dominczyk (Grey's Anatomy) and Kate Burton (Grey's Anatomy).

The official trailer released by Netflix for Inventing Anna lays out the basics of Anna’s story. Starting as she arrived in New York and began creating an imaginary life that allowed her into the inner circle of New York’s elites — with all the glitz and glamour that goes with it. Give it a watch right here:

While Shonda Rhimes, with her production company Shondaland, is behind some of the most popular TV shows of the last decade or so — Grey’s Anatomy, Station 19, Bridgerton, Scandal, How to Get Away With Murder Inventing Anna will be the first show that she herself has created since Scandal in 2019.

Inventing Anna is expected to be one of the marquee new TV shows of 2022, and you will only be able to watch it if you are signed up for a Netflix subscription, which starts at $13.99.

Michael Balderston

Michael Balderston is a DC-based entertainment and assistant managing editor for What to Watch, who has previously written about the TV and movies with TV Technology, Awards Circuit and regional publications. Spending most of his time watching new movies at the theater or classics on TCM, some of Michael's favorite movies include Casablanca, Moulin Rouge!, Silence of the Lambs, Children of Men, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and Star Wars. On the TV side he enjoys Only Murders in the Building, Yellowstone, The Boys, Game of Thrones and is always up for a Seinfeld rerun. Follow on Letterboxd.