In a competitive bidding environment, Netflix has secured the rights to the drama “Lovesick,” created by Sarah Treem and featuring Claire Danes in a leading role.
According to Variety, Netflix has issued a straight-to-series order for the show, which is inspired by the Israeli series “The Best Worst Thing.” Treem will take on the roles of writer, executive producer, and showrunner. Alongside starring, Danes will also serve as an executive producer. Keshet Studios’ Avi Nir and Keren Shahar, along with Peter Traugott, will also be executive producers. Traugott, previously the head of Keshet Studios, left earlier this year to become the president of TV at Fifth Season. Production will be handled by Universal Television and Keshet Studios.
“Lovesick” is described as a romantic epic that follows the unexpected and intense relationship between two individuals. Annika (played by Danes), an esteemed breast cancer surgeon, receives her own cancer diagnosis. Her patient, Nate, is an up-and-coming politician. The show delves into their intertwined lives, examining themes such as love, sex, illness, death, family, children, health, medicine, and the meaning of life, while Annika undergoes breast cancer treatment.
This role continues Danes’ collaboration with Netflix, following her performance opposite Matthew Rhys in the limited series “The Beast in Me” in 2025, which garnered her a Golden Globe nomination, with the series also receiving a nomination for best limited series.
Danes has won two of her three Emmy Awards for her role in “Homeland,” where she was nominated five times for best actress in a drama series. “Homeland” was also adapted from an Israeli format. Danes received her other Emmy for the HBO film “Temple Grandin.” She has earned three Golden Globes for “Homeland” and “Temple Grandin” as well. She was nominated for the Emmy and Golden Globe for best supporting actress in a limited or anthology series for the FX drama “Fleishman Is in Trouble.” Her film work includes “The Hours,” “Shopgirl,” and “Romeo + Juliet.”
Claire Danes is represented by WME, Signpost Management, and Ziffren Brittenham.
“I’m thrilled to get to tell this story with the genius, Claire Danes. We’ve been looking for something to do together for a very long time and this character, Annika, is perhaps a mix of both of our wildest dreams,” Treem said. “To get to tell a story about all the things keeping me up at night anyway – life, death, children, love, middle-age, courage, science and faith – is an extraordinary opportunity I don’t take lightly in these turbulent times. We’re very grateful to Netflix for this significant commitment and we cannot wait to get going.”
Sarah Treem is renowned for co-creating the critically acclaimed Showtime series “The Affair” with Hagai Levi. The series ran for five seasons from 2014 to 2019 and featured Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, Joshua Jackson, and Julia Goldani Telles. It won the Golden Globe for best drama series in 2015. Treem has also contributed to other shows, including “In Treatment” (another Israeli format) and “House of Cards,” the latter being a Netflix series. Her upcoming work includes the FX limited series “Cry Wolf,” where she serves as writer, executive producer, and showrunner.
Treem is represented by CAA and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.
“The Best Worst Thing” was created by Rona Tamir, Tal Granit, and Sharon Maymon for Keshet 12. It aired in 2024 and starred Ayelet Zurer and Amos Tamam.
