A Love Triangle That Challenges the Rules of High Society

At the centre of the story is Newland Archer (Ben Radcliffe), a well-connected New York gentleman who is preparing to marry May Welland (Kristine Froseth), a young woman admired for her kindness and commitment to the conventions of her social class.

Their carefully planned future begins to unravel when May’s cousin, Ellen Olenska (Camila Morrone), returns to New York following the breakdown of her marriage to a Polish nobleman. Intelligent, independent and unwilling to follow society’s expectations, Ellen brings a very different perspective to the world Newland has always known.

Newland finds himself increasingly drawn to her, leaving him caught between his growing feelings and the responsibilities attached to his engagement. Ellen, meanwhile, must navigate the scandal surrounding her return and her desire for a more independent life.

The resulting love triangle raises questions about whether people should follow their hearts or remain loyal to duty, convention and the expectations of others.

Emma Frost Brings a Fresh Perspective to Edith Wharton’s Classic

The adaptation is written and led by Emma Frost, whose previous work includes the acclaimed historical dramas The White Queen and The White Princess, as well as The Spanish Princess and Jamaica Inn.

Frost has described the novel as an unusually mature love story, and her adaptation aims to preserve its emotional complexity while making the characters more accessible to contemporary audiences.

One significant change is the decision to move beyond Newland’s perspective. Whereas Wharton’s novel largely follows what he sees and understands, the series gives May and Ellen greater narrative importance, allowing their individual experiences and motivations to shape the story.

This approach also avoids reducing May to an obstacle in the romance or portraying Ellen simply as someone Newland must win. Instead, all three characters are presented as individuals with competing feelings, desires and difficult choices.

The new adaptation also explores the more sensual aspects of the story. In a November 10, 2026 interview with Vanity Fair, Frost discussed drawing inspiration from Wharton’s personal writings and two alternative endings to the novel, both of which contained explicit sexual material. The series therefore takes a more adult approach to the relationships while remaining connected to the spirit of the original work.

A Star-Studded Cast Brings 1870s New York to Life

Kristine Froseth, known for The Buccaneers, plays May Welland, Newland’s fiancée. Although May is a believer in social convention, the character also has a more independent side than her outwardly traditional manner might suggest.

Camila Morrone, whose previous credits include Daisy Jones & the Six and The Night Manager, takes on the role of Ellen Olenska. Her character is intelligent, strong-willed and determined to establish a life on her own terms after her failed marriage.

Ben Radcliffe, previously seen in Masters of the Air and Anatomy of a Scandal, plays Newland Archer, the society gentleman caught between the woman he has promised to marry and the cousin who challenges everything he thought he wanted.

The supporting cast includes Margo Martindale (The Americans, Justified) as Mrs. Manson Mingott, May and Ellen’s formidable grandmother, and Fiona Glascott (Julia, Brooklyn) as May’s mother, Augusta Welland.

Belinda Bromilow (The Great, The Roses) plays Newland’s mother, Adeline Archer, while Emma Shipp (Rivals, What It Feels Like for a Girl) appears as his sister, Janey Archer.

Hayley Mills (Trap, Arthur’s Whiskey) and Michael Cochrane (Downton Abbey, Sharpe) portray Louisa and Henry van der Luyden, influential members of New York society.

Other cast members include Ryan Morgan, Kel Matsena, Lucia Balordi, Steven Pacey, Will Tudor, Elly Roberts, Jack Cutmore-Scott, Anna Madeley and John Light.

Matsena plays Ned Winsett, a journalist and friend of Newland. The adaptation also reimagines the character as a Black New Yorker, broadening the social world explored in the series.

Lavish Period Detail Meets a More Modern Interpretation

The production places considerable emphasis on recreating the atmosphere of 1870s New York, from elaborate ballrooms and formal gatherings to the private spaces where the characters’ relationships develop.

Costume designer Daniel Orlandi and production designer Jean-François Campeau help establish the visual identity of the series. The clothing and interiors also reflect the restrictions placed on people living within a society that prizes appearances, reputation and social standing.

The adaptation incorporates historical references, including the Comstock Act of 1873, while introducing additional settings and storylines that expand the world of Wharton’s novel.

Shannon Murphy, known for Dying for Sex and Babyteeth, directs alongside Lisa Brühlmann (Killing Eve) and Natalia Leite (The Handmaid’s Tale). All three bring different perspectives to the eight-episode production.

When Does The Age of Innocence Arrive on Netflix?

Originally published in 1920, Edith Wharton’s The Age of Innocence became a landmark of American literature and earned its author the first Pulitzer Prize for Fiction awarded to a woman.

The novel has inspired several adaptations, most notably Martin Scorsese’s 1993 film starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer and Winona Ryder. That version received five Academy Award nominations and won one Oscar.

Netflix’s new interpretation offers another opportunity to revisit Wharton’s exploration of love, social expectations and personal freedom, this time through an expanded ensemble and a greater focus on the women at the centre of the story.

All eight episodes of The Age of Innocence premiere on Netflix on February 18, 2027.