A24 Bets on Baumbach: Why His First TV Series 'Hope' Could Redefine Family Drama

Following the paths of directors I admire, I couldn’t ignore the news that Noah Baumbach is finally making the leap into television. His first-ever series, Hope, will adapt Andrew Ridker’s 2018 novel and is being produced with A24.

For a filmmaker so closely tied to Netflix in recent years, this shift feels less like a side project and more like a turning point.

A24’s Next Big Gamble

A24 has already shaken up the TV world with Euphoria, Beef and Ramy. Each proved that television doesn’t have to play safe. Now they’re betting on Baumbach, a director who has built his reputation on dissecting the cracks in privileged families. Isn’t that exactly the sort of messy, layered material television thrives on?

Why Hope Fits So Well

Set in suburban Boston in 2008, the novel follows a Jewish family whose polished image unravels after scandal. With its dry humour, family fights and awkward dinners, it feels tailor-made for Baumbach. His films (Marriage Story, The Squid and the Whale) already capture love and resentment under one roof — only now he’ll have an entire series to let it breathe.

What This Could Mean

Baumbach has brushed against television before, but Hope marks his first full step in. The format gives him space to deepen his usual subtleties, while A24’s support promises boldness. Family dramas often lean sentimental; this one could push toward something sharper and more unsettling.