'The Girl Before' — US release date, cast, plot, trailer, and everything we know

'The Girl Before' stars Jessica Plummer and David Oyelowo.
Jessica Plummer and David Oyelowo star in 'The Girl Before'. (Image credit: BBC/42/Amanda Searle)

The Girl Before is a psychological thriller that aired on BBC1 in the UK in December and is now heading to HBO Max in the US.

First announced back in March 2021, The Girl Before is a gripping adaptation of JP Delaney's best-selling novel of the same name. The twist-filled series tells the story of a woman who questions whether the opportunity to live in an ultra-minimalist home is worth living under a list of strict rules.

The series has been written by JP Delaney himself, with Emmy-nominee Lisa Brühlmann (Killing Eve, Servant) attached to direct.

Here's everything we know about The Girl Before...

'The Girl Before' release date

In the UK, The Girl Before premiered on BBC1 on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021 at 9:00 pm, and all episodes are still available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Now the four-part drama is heading to the US and will air on HBO Max on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022.

How many episodes of 'The Girl Before' will there be?

The Girl Before consists of four, hour long episodes.

The Girl Before - Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Jane.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Jane. (Image credit: BBC/ 42/ Amanda Searle)

'The Girl Before' cast

BAFTA-nominated actor Gugu Mbatha-Raw (A Wrinkle in Time, Loki, Black Mirror) stars in The Girl Before as Jane, a traumatized young woman who makes a shocking discovery about the house she has just fallen in love with and moved into.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw says: "I'm so excited to work with this amazing team on such a compelling story in my debut role as actor/producer."

Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominee David Oyelowo (Nightingale, Selma) plays Edward Monkford, the enigmatic architect who designed the home Jane has just moved into.

Former EastEnders actress Jessica Plummer, who played Walford's Chantelle Atkins, also features as Emma. Emma is the previous occupant of the house who passed away just three years prior to Jane's arrival. Another former EastEnders star Ben Hardy (aka a previous Peter Beale) stars in The Girl Before as Emma's partner.

David Oyelowo says: "This story is mind-bending in its clever construction and intricacy. I can't wait to see it, let alone be in it. Plus, I'd go anywhere to work with my friend Gugu again."

'The Girl Before' plot

The Girl Before follows Jane, a young woman who gets the chance to rent One Folgate Street, a beautiful, ultra-minimalist home designed by Edward Monkford. Although it feels like a dream opportunity for her, there's one catch: Jane must live by Edward's rules whilst she's staying in the house.

As time wears on, Jane starts to feel like the house is changing and affecting her. At some point, she makes a shocking discovery about the previous occupant, Emma, and is forced to confront some unnerving similarities between herself and Edward's previous tenant.

As the two women's timelines begin to overlap, Jane fears that what happened to Emma will also happen to her...

Director Lisa Brühlmann says: “Can our surroundings, like a special house, affect who we are, even change us? The ability to change our beliefs and our character is highly fascinating to me. I can't wait to bring this female-driven thriller to life.”

The Girl Before - David Oyelowo and Gugu Mbatha-Raw

How will Jane cope with Edward's rules? (Image credit: BBC/42/Amanda Searle)

Is there a trailer for 'The Girl Before'?

The trailer for The Girl Before shows us Jane being accepted to live in the absolutely stunning house. Shortly thereafter, she starts noticing the house changing her in unexpected ways.

As she begins to look into the house's past, it looks like things grow more dangerous. Will Jane's fate be the same as the girl who lived there before? 

You can check out the trailer below: 

Martin Shore
Staff Writer at WhatToWatch.com

Martin is a Staff Writer with WhatToWatch.com, where he produces a variety of articles focused on the latest and greatest films and TV shows. 

Some of his favorite shows are What We Do In The Shadows, Bridgerton, Gangs of London, The Witcher, Doctor Who, and Ghosts. When he’s not watching TV or at the movies, Martin’s probably still in front of a screen playing the latest video games, reading, or watching the NFL.