In a highly competitive environment, Netflix released Lovesick, a drama by Sarah Treem and starring Claire Danes.
Variety has learned that Netflix has given a series order to the project, which is based on the Israeli series “The Best Worst Thing.” Treem will serve as writer, executive producer, and showrunner. In addition to starring, Danes will also serve as executive producer. Keshet Studios’ Avi Nir and Keren Shahar will also executive produce alongside Peter Traugott. Traugott was previously head of Keshet Studios, but left earlier this year to become president of television at The Fifth Season. Produced by Universal Television and Keshet Studios.
The official logline for “Lovesick” describes the work as “a romantic epic that follows the intense love affair of two people whose lives unexpectedly intertwine.” Annika (Danes), a renowned breast cancer surgeon, has just been diagnosed with cancer. Her new patient, Nate, is a promising politician. The series explores their intertwined lives, exploring themes such as love, sex, illness, death, family, children, health, medicine, and the meaning of life, all of which Anika experiences at the same time. It is a treatment for breast cancer. ”
Danes continues to do business with Netflix in this role, having starred opposite Matthew Rhys in the streamer’s limited series The Beast in Me in 2025. The show earned Danes a Golden Globe nomination, and the show was also nominated for Best Limited Series.
Danes won two of the three Emmy Awards for Homeland and received five nominations for Best Actress in a Drama Series overall. “Homeland” was also based on the Israeli format. Danes won another Emmy for her role in the HBO movie “Temple Grandin.” She also won three Golden Globe Awards for “HOMELAND” and “Temple Grandin.” She was nominated for an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Anthology Series for the FX drama Fleischmann is in Trouble. Her film work includes ‘The Hours’, ‘Shopgirl’ and ‘Romeo + Juliet’.
She is repped by WME, Signpost Management, and Ziffren Brittenham.
“I’m thrilled to be telling this story with the genius Claire Danes. We’ve been looking for something to do together for a long time, and this character, Annika, is probably a combination of both of our wildest dreams,” said Treem. “Being able to tell stories about life, death, children, love, middle age, courage, science, faith, and all the things that keep me up at night is an extraordinary opportunity in these turbulent times, and I don’t take that lightly. I’m extremely grateful to Netflix for this important commitment, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Treem is best known for co-creating the critically acclaimed Showtime series “The Affair” with Hagai Levi. The show aired for five seasons from 2014 to 2019 and starred Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, Joshua Jackson, and Julia Goldani Telles. The show won the Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Series in 2015. Treem has also worked on shows such as “In Treatment” (another Israeli format) and “House of Cards,” the latter also a Netflix show. Next, Treem is the writer, EP, and showrunner of the FX limited series “Cry Wolf.”
She is repped by CAA and Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett & Cole.
“The Best Worst Thing” was created for Keshet 12 by Rona Tamir, Tal Granit, and Sharon Maymon. The series aired in 2024 and starred Ayelet Zurah and Amos Tamam.
