“The ultimate marriage crisis”: Succession's Matthew Macfadyen has a new power struggle in The Miniature Wife

Remember in Succession how Tom Wambsgans had a marital power struggle on his hands with Shiv? Well, now, Matthew Macfadyen is starring in a new series where - yet again - he’s facing the ultimate marriage crisis (can he catch a break?). Coming to Sky and NOW, The Miniature Wife is a domestic drama that asks a somewhat surreal question: what if your spouse was suddenly shrunk down to a tiny size?

Yes, you read that correctly - The Miniature Wife follows husband and wife Les (Matthew Macfadyen) and Lindy (Elizabeth Banks) - and, in a hilarious turn of events, a technological mishap finds Lindy transformed into a miniature version of herself. A resentful power struggle follows between the two partners, who now have - quite literally! - different perspectives.

While we wait for The Miniature Wife to arrive on our screens, here’s everything you need to know about the series, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.

What is The Miniature Wife about?

The upcoming drama is based on a short story by acclaimed author Manuel Gonzales, and also stars Fleabag’s Sian Clifford and Zoe Lister-Jones. Pride & Prejudice’s Matthew Macfadyen and The Better Sister’s Elizabeth Banks star as husband and wife Les and Lindy, for whom life is pretty ordinary - but things get rather strange when, after a technological mishap, Lindy gets smaller - a lot smaller, in fact!

According to Sky's official synopsis: "Marriage gets hilariously complicated in The Miniature Wife, when Elizabeth Banks is unexpectedly shrunk in a technological mishap, much to the surprise of her husband, played by Matthew Macfadyen. Domestic life takes a turn for the perfectly mismatched pair, as their day-to-day turns into a razor-sharp battle for power.” Quite the echo of Tom and Shiv in Succession, then!

Katie Keenan, Group Director of Acquisitions for Sky UK and Europe, has said of the series: “The show brings together an incredible all-star cast, including some familiar and much-loved British talent. The on-screen chemistry between Matthew and Elizabeth is magnetic, and paired with quick, witty writing, the comedy drama from Media Res Studio is set to be one of the standout hits next year.”

Who’s in the cast of The Miniature Wife?

The cast of The Miniature Wife includes:

• Matthew Macfadyen as Les
• Elizabeth Banks as Lindy
• Zoe Lister-Jones
• Sofia Rosinsky
• O-T Fagbenle
• Sian Clifford
• Ronny Chieng
• Aasif Mandvi
• Rong Fu
• Tricia Black

Is Manuel Gonzales's short story any good?

Yes - it’s an acclaimed, exhilarating story in which the ordinary becomes extraordinary! The Miniature Wife is part of a collection of stories by Manuel Gonzales published in 2013, The Miniature Wife and Other Stories, which won the Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction and the John Gardner Prize for Fiction.

How can I watch The Miniature Wife?

We don’t have an exact release date for The Miniature Wife just yet, but we do know that it’s due to arrive on Sky and NOW in 2026. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we'll share it here.