Over the past few years, there has been a massive rise in the number of mainstreambiopicson our screens. In this year alone, we have witnessed or will witness the likes ofChristopher Nolan’sOppenheimerabout the physicist of the same name,Ben Affleck’sAirabout Michael Jordan’s famous Nike partnership, and evenMatthew Johnson’sBlackberry. It is clear to many great production companies that the demand is there for biopics, but the possible number of stories to be told is limited based on their real-life parameters. This can often lead to retellings of famous stories from new angles, with the intention not to simply remake a tale that has been told countless times, but to offer a fresh perspective on what has become a well-worn path. Disney and National Geographic, like other major companies, are very aware of the power of the biopic and have teamed up to refocus one of the most heartbreaking and famous stories of modern history in the biographical miniseriesA Small Light(2023).

The story of Anne Frank is etched into the fabric of modern culture and has been shared in many forms for nearly 100 years. However, the lesser-told side of the story is that of Miep Gies, who was the woman who attempted to shelter the Frank family from the awful Nazi regime. So, with that in mind, and with the release date just around the corner, here is everything we know aboutA Small Lightso far.

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When and Where Is A Small Light Releasing?

With a story this powerful, it is understandable that many fans will heavily anticipate its release. It has been confirmed that the first two episodes of this limited series will be premiering on Monday, August 13, 2025, at 9 pm ET. Following this, two episodes will be released every subsequent week at the same time on Monday at 9 pm ET. This means there is hardly any time to wait to finally watchA Small Light. The first two episodes will be simultaneously broadcast across Lifetime, Nat Geo WILD, and National Geographic at the aforementioned time, with the episodes then becoming available to stream the next day on both Hulu andDisney+. The premiere will also be broadcast on Freeform on Saturday, May 6, at 8 pm ET.

Episodes of the series are also going to be made available to stream on the Nat Geo TV and ABC apps, meaning there should hopefully be a way for most to take in this tale. In the UK, the first two episodes will be available on Disney+ on Tuesday, May 2, with each subsequent episode arriving every Tuesday after that.

Watch the Trailer for A Small Light

On April 5, thetrailer forA Small Lightwas officially released by National Geographic. It can be watched in full below:

The trailer captures, through its tense pacing and score composed byAriel Marx, the exact tone required for a story with this much weight. The stand-out of this series based on the trailer, besides the compelling narrative, seems to be the performances from the main cast. In particular, Miep Gies and her husband Jan feel extremely rooted in their setting, with credit going to actorsBel Powley(The Diary of a Teenage Girl) andJoe Cole(Peaky Blinders). The trailer confirms, towards the end of its runtime, that the more terrifying moments of this tale will be depicted, which likely carries with it some incredibly powerful acting and sensitive cinematography and direction. Anne Frank, played byBillie Boullet(The Worst Witch), does mention her iconic diary in the trailer, meaning that, despite looking at this tale from a new angle, the series will not altogether reroute away from Anne Frank’s infamous documentation of her struggle.

Abehind-the-scenes featurettewas also released two months before the trailer, arriving on August 18, 2025. Check it out below:

What’s the Plot of A Small Light About?

As alluded to before,A Small Lighttells the iconic tale of the Frank family from the point of view of the woman who sheltered them, Hermine “Miep” Gies. The official plot synopsis reads:

“Based on an inspiring true story, Miep Gies was young, carefree and opinionated — at a time when opinions got you killed ― when Otto Frank asked her to help hide his family from the Nazis during WWII. Without hesitation, Miep agreed. For the next two years, she and her daring and devoted husband, Jan, with several other everyday heroes, watched over the Frank, van Pels and Pfeffer families hiding in the secret annex.”

Clearly, this story is going to be dealing with some horrific true events, which could possibly cause distress to some viewers. Naturally, however, these moments are immensely powerful and will make for some hard-hitting television. It is also key to note that, in the synopsis, both the van Pels and Pfeffer families are mentioned, which is important, as it wasn’t just the Franks that this incredible woman attempted to hide.

Related:10 Historical Dramas That Are True-to-Life

Who’s In the Cast of A Small Light?

It can be a tricky task to cast for a biopic, as not only do the actors need to convey the action and emotion of their character with authenticity, but they have to become a person already known to audiences. The casting team ofA Small Lightseems to have done a great job, with a strong ensemble deserving of taking on such a difficult story. Joining the aforementioned Bel Powley, Joe Cole, and Billie Boullet on-screen are the likes ofLiev Schreiber(Ray Donovan) as Otto Frank,Ashley Brooke(Troop Zero) as Margot Frank,Andy Nyman(Judy) as Hermann van Pels,Noah Taylor(Almost Famous) as Doctor Pfeffer,Liza Sadovy(Emma) as Mrs. Stoppelman, andSebastian Armesto(Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides) as Max Stoppelman. Other notable cast members who are featured includeDaniel Donskoyas Karl Josef Silberbauer,Rudi Goodmanas Peter Van Pels,Caroline Catzas Mrs. van Pels,Amira Casaras Edith Frank,Noah Leggottas Young Cas, andMikulas Mikeskaas The Baby, among various others.

Of course, this is only a small sample of the fantastically curated cast list, with their shared talent and the power of the story being told makingA Small Lightone of the most unmissable shows set to hit Disney+.

Who Are the Creators of A Small Light?

As with many series, often the work can be split between several creatives.A Small Lightis no different, withTony Phelan(Grey’s Anatomy) set to direct three episodes,Leslie Hope(Lost in Space) directing two episodes, andSusanna Fogel(The Spy Who Dumped Me)directing the bulk of the episodes. Fogel and Phelan also stand as executive producers on the series, alongsideAvi Nir,Joan Rater,Alon Shtruzman, andPeter Traugott. Cinematography credits go toStuart Howell(The Crown) andAzul Serra(Liquid Truth). The script was penned by a strong team of great writers, including Phelan,William Harper(Grey’s Anatomy),Ben Esler(Hell on Wheels), andJoan Rater(Fire Country).