Kerry Washington played a crucial role in the decision to relocate the setting of Apple TV’s new series Imperfect Women from England to Los Angeles, leading to significant employment opportunities for local crews. The adaptation of this series, which is based on Araminta Hall’s novel, highlights Washington’s influence in bringing production to Southern California while shaping the story’s backdrop.
On Tuesday, Washington joined Elisabeth Moss and Kate Mara for the first full preview and panel discussion of the eight-episode series during Apple TV’s press day at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar. Showrunner, creator, and executive producer Annie Weisman moderated the event, which gathered around 300 journalists, influencers, and content creators. The series premieres with two episodes on March 18, followed by weekly releases until April 29.
Origins and Vision for the Series
Elisabeth Moss revealed that her inspiration to develop Imperfect Women into a television series stemmed from reading Hall’s book several years ago, drawn in by its complex characters and thriller-like narrative. Moss and Lindsey McManus secured the rights through their production company, Love & Squalor Pictures, and both serve as executive producers.
“I fell in love with the idea of an accurate, truthful, raw and vulnerable representation of real female friendship,”
said Moss, emphasizing the fresh portrayal the story offers of women’s relationships.
“What really drew me to it was the idea of being able to talk about female friendship in a way that maybe isn’t often done. And to talk about the harder parts of it, the beauty of it, the wonderful things about it, the things that are irreplaceable, but also the things that are also a little darker and the secrets that develop, especially over a friendship that lasts 20-something years.”
The original novel is set in England and follows three lifelong friends—Nancy, Eleanor, and Mary—whose bond unravels after Nancy’s murder. The story explores their shared grief and the hidden secrets that challenge their perceptions of each other and their friendship.
Adapting to Los Angeles: A Creative and Strategic Decision
For the series, the lead roles are played by Moss as Mary, Washington as Eleanor, and Mara as Nancy. The adaptation process was collaborative, with Hall providing strong support. A pivotal change was relocating the story to Southern California, a move encouraged by Washington.
“It’s such an exciting place to tell a story like this because when we think about Los Angeles, we think bright sunshine, bright lights, glamour, and beauty,”
Washington explained.
“And then there is this other kind of dark underbelly and long history, where things are not, like, new and fabricated, they’re grounded and older, and there’s a richness to the culture and the history here.”
This relocation had larger significance beyond creative reasons. It brought meaningful work to Los Angeles following the fires that affected the city in 2025, benefiting both the community and the production crew.
“To be able to shoot here after the fires last year was so meaningful to the city and meaningful to us and our crew,”
Washington added. Showrunner Moss credited Washington’s efforts:
“Kerry deserves the credit for that choice. She brought up L.A., and it was obviously creatively very exciting, but I think meant a lot to us to bring some work here, and not only use all the beautiful places, but to use these incredible crews. It’s really thanks to Kerry that we ended up coming here.”
Broad Industry Focus on Los Angeles Amid Production Challenges
During Apple TV’s press day, Los Angeles was a repeated topic as the streaming platform previewed its 2026 projects. Of 17 panels, nine included productions filmed in California, such as Jonah Hill’s film Outcome starring Keanu Reeves, Cameron Diaz, and Matt Bomer; the series Lucky featuring Anya Taylor-Joy and Timothy Olyphant; Sugar with Colin Farrell; The Dink starring Mary Steenburgen and Jake Johnson; the new season of Shrinking; McG’s Way of the Warrior Kid with Chris Pratt; and Margo’s Got Money Troubles with Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nicole Kidman, as well as Jennifer Garner’s The Last Thing He Told Me.
These announcements present a positive outlook for Los Angeles’ production sector despite recent setbacks. Industry analysis shows a notable 24 percent year-over-year decrease in major scripted projects filmed in the city, attributed to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing Hollywood labor strikes, and the devastating January 2025 fires.
Industry Voices on Reviving L.A. Filming Post-Fires
Anya Taylor-Joy shared reflections on filming Lucky in the immediate aftermath of the fires, describing the profound sense of community and purpose experienced by the cast and crew.
“We were making [Lucky] in the aftermath of the L.A. fires, and I think we were one of the first shows that really got going after that,”
Taylor-Joy said.
“And just the sensation of pride and love that our cast and our crew had every single day going into work and how grateful we were that we all had something that we could focus on and try and get back to the community in that way. That was really magical.”
Colin Farrell Reflects on Los Angeles as a Character in ‘Sugar’
Farrell, both star and executive producer of Sugar, discussed the strong connection between the series and the city itself. The show revolves around John Sugar, a private detective and cinephile, navigating a complex investigation into a boxing family intertwined with a broader conspiracy.
“I just love playing this character,”
Farrell stated.
“I love Los Angeles. It took me a while to fall in love with the city, but over the last 23 years of living here, I have grown to love it more and more and more. It never makes sense to me as a city; it’s so multifaceted, it’s so cross cultural. If you want to be a surfer, you can be a surfer, an economist, a rocker, an artist, a graffiti artist.”
Farrell highlighted that Los Angeles’ complexity and personality are underrepresented in current film and television work.
“Most shows and most films, some that are even set here, take place elsewhere. So, to shoot on the streets of LA and have it as a character in [the show] was something that drew me back and got me just as excited about the second year as I was about the first [season].”
The second season of Sugar is scheduled to premiere on Apple TV on June 19.
Implications for Los Angeles’ Film Industry Recovery
Kerry Washington’s involvement with Imperfect Women has revitalized local production by relocating the story to Los Angeles, helping to bring needed jobs to the area after a period marked by pandemic disruption, labor disputes, and natural disasters. The ongoing investment by Apple TV in projects filmed locally signals a hopeful phase for Hollywood’s recovery and a renewed artistic appreciation for the city’s diverse culture and history.
