Sky commissions raft of British drama
Sky has announced a host of new drama commissions, starring the likes of Dominic Cooper, Vanessa Redgrave and David Harewood. The slate includes a biopic of Bond creator Ian Fleming and The Reckless Season, a collection of films from acclaimed female screenwriters.
The announcement comes after Sky pledged to invest £600 million a year in home-grown programming by 2014.
Brit actor Dominic Cooper will play the lead role in Fleming, a series based on the life of the James Bond creator. Airing on Sky Atlantic, the four part series will be made by Ecosse Films, who produced the upcoming Diana biopic starring Naomi Watts.
A series of five original dramas from female British screenwriters make up The Reckless Season for Sky Living. Talking to the Dead by Gwyneth Hughes (The Girl), The Last Witch by Sally Wainwright (Scott & Bailey) and Rubenesque by Annie Griffin (Fresh Meat writer and director) are included in the line-up so far.
As well as original productions, drama favourites are also set to make a return.
Playhouse Presents for Sky Arts is back, this time featuring the directorial debuts of the likes of Idris Elba and Matt Smith, with a cast including Kylie Minogue, Anna Friel, Vanesssa Redgrave and David Harewood.
Also set to make a return is Strike Back and the BAFTA nominated Mad Dogs, where the curtain falls on the dark comedy thriller.
The full line up, including previously announced commissions, is as follows:
New drama
• Fleming for Sky Atlantic – Bond biopic starring Dominic Cooper
• The Reckless Season for Sky Living – five original female penned dramas
• Critical (w/t) for Sky 1– medical series from Jed Mercurio (Line of Duty)
• Moonfleet for Sky 1– family drama penned by Ashley Pharaoh (Ashes to Ashes)
• The Smoke for Sky 1 – following the crew at a London fire station
• Dracula for Sky Living– vampire series starring Jonathan Rhys Myers
Returning drama
• Playhouse Presents for Sky Arts – season of talent-led projects
• Mad Dogs The Finale for Sky 1 - two-part conclusion to the thriller
• Strike Back for Sky 1– fourth chapter in the high octane series
• The Tunnel for Sky Atlantic - adaptation of Scandinavian drama The Bridge
Full information on the productions mentioned above can be found on Production Intelligence, the online database of advance productions from The Knowledge:
