Netflix project "Too Much" - Because of body shaming: Lena Dunham doesn't play the lead role in her series
City life, self-discovery, and much worse sex: The comedy series "Girls" about four young women in New York gained cult status in the 2010s. Written by Lena Dunham, who also starred as the narcissistic Hannah Horvath. Now, Dunham is developing a new show for Netflix, "Too Much," which is set to premiere in 2025. This time, Dunham will not be in the lead role, and there's a sad reason for that.
"I wasn't ready to take my body apart again," she told "The New Yorker" magazine. "I didn't want to make those experiences again in my life at that time," so Dunham. She found it hard to admit this.
The Netflix project is said to be similar to "Girls" in essence: The series follows an American woman in her late thirties who moves to London and falls in love with a musician. Dunham herself has lived in London since 2021 and is married to Luis Felber, a Peruvian-British musician. Actress Megan Stalter takes on the lead role in "Too Much." Dunham described her as "a little Meryl Streep."
Lena Dunham's nudity in "Girls" caused headlines
When she wrote "Girls," Lena Dunham was only 24 years old and became an overnight star - and a tabloid sensation. In addition to critical reviews, Dunham faced intense body shaming: The mere fact that she appeared nude in the series caused controversy, and hate comments flooded the internet. This led Dunham to stop using her social media accounts herself for the past six years. An assistant manages them for her; she writes posts but does not read the comments. "I don't think we should spend our time on these platforms. These places don't protect women and minorities (...)," Dunham said. She realized she wouldn't be able to feel as comfortable in her private life as she wanted while still having access to these things.
However, this doesn't mean Dunham has completely given up acting: She appeared this year at the Berlin Film Festival in "Treasure" with Stephen Fry, playing the daughter of a Holocaust survivor. Another major film project is currently in production. And in "Too Much," she will still be seen: The 38-year-old will take on a smaller role, as she revealed, alongside Andrew Rannells. This should please "Girls" fans: She worked with him on camera before, as he played Elijah, the ex-gay boyfriend of Dunham's Hannah.
Source: "The New Yorker"
Lena Dunham's new Netflix series, "Too Much," will have a different setting, as it's set in London, a city she now resides in with her husband, Luis Felber. Despite not having the leading role in "Too Much," Dunham will still have a presence on the show, sharing screen time with Andrew Rannells, who previously appeared alongside her in "Girls." Despite facing intense body shaming and controversy due to her nudity in "Girls," Dunham's acting career continues, with roles in films such as "Treasure" and an upcoming major project.
