Honey, I Shrunk the Ego: Everything We Know About Elizabeth Banks’ ‘The Miniature Wife’

Peacock is about to make you feel significantly better about your domestic life. Enter The Miniature Wife, a high-concept "marital comedy" that takes the term "shrinking violet" and turns it into a literal, sci-fi nightmare.

The series, which officially drops all ten episodes on Peacock on April 9, 2026, is already generating massive buzz for its lead pairing: Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen. On paper, it sounds like a whimsical reboot of a 1980s family flick, but early looks suggest something much darker, sharper, and delightfully mean-spirited.

The Plot: Size Truly Does Matter

Based on the acclaimed short story by Manuel Gonzales, the premise is as simple as it is terrifying. Macfadyen plays Les, a research scientist who either through sheer incompetence or a subconscious desire for controlaccidentally shrinks his wife, Lindy (Banks), to a mere six inches tall.

While Lindy is busy trying not to get stepped on or eaten by the family cat, Les finds himself navigating a bizarre new reality where he holds all the physical cards. The show isn't interested in the "aw-shucks" wonder of being small; it’s a surgical examination of what happens to a relationship when one person literally becomes a god to the other. Expect plenty of psychological warfare served with a side of giant household objects.

A Cast That Understands the Assignment

Peacock clearly backed up the Brinks truck for this ensemble. Seeing Matthew Macfadyen move from the spineless-yet-calculating Tom Wambsgans of Succession to a bumbling scientist with a "oops-I-shrunk-my-wife" problem is the lateral move we didn't know we needed. Banks, meanwhile, is the queen of playing women on the verge of a nervous breakdown, making her the perfect choice for a woman fighting for her life in a dollhouse.

The supporting cast is equally stacked with talent that knows how to handle "elevated weirdness." Look out for Sian Clifford (Fleabag), O-T Fagbenle, and Ronny Chieng, all of whom are expected to bring that specific brand of dry, cynical humor that The TV Cave readers live for.

Behind the Scenes: The Pedigree

The show is run by Jennifer Ames and Steve Turner (Goliath), with Greg Mottola (Superbad) directing the initial episodes. This creative team suggests we’re getting something more grounded in reality than your typical sci-fi romp—a show that cares more about the bitterness of the dialogue than the CGI of the shrinking ray.

As we inch closer to the April 9 premiere, the Official Teaser Trailer confirms that this is less about the "how" and more about the "holy crap, what now?" It’s a battle of the sexes where the scale is entirely skewed, and if the early footage is any indication, Lindy isn’t going to stay small-minded for long.

Whether this ends in a reconciliation or a very tiny murder remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: domestic bliss has never looked this claustrophobic.

Do you think The Miniature Wife will be the next White Lotus-style satire, or is the premise too small to sustain ten episodes?

Let us know your theories in the comments.