The U.K.’s Channel 4 has unveiled three new dramas from some of the territory’s most exciting creatives, including actor Anthony Boyle, “Slow Horses” showrunner Will Smith and production company Roughcut TV.
First up is four-part series “Close to Home,” starring Boyle and produced by Element Pictures (“Bugonia”). Based on Michael Magee’s novel, it tells the story of Belfast-born Sean, who returns to the city after university and soon slides back into bad habits. But his life is turned upside down when one night he assaults a stranger at a party.
“Close to Home” goes into production on location in Belfast later this month, directed by “Code of Silence” helmer Diarmuid Goggins. Joining Boyle, who has appeared in “Masters of the Air” and “House of Guinness,” are Jessica Reynolds (“A Woman of Substance”), Seamus O’Hara (“House of Guinness”) and Oisín Thompson (“Trespasses”). Magee is adapting the novel while Fremantle are distributing.
“‘Close To Home’ explores the emotionally rich landscape of West Belfast through the eyes of Sean, played by the fantastic Anthony Boyle,” said Channel 4 commissioning editor Gemma Boswell. “We’re delighted to showcase Mick’s beautiful writing with this timely and evocative story of a young generation finding their place in the world.”
Next is “The Siege,” based on Ben Macintyre’s best-selling book and adapted by “Slow Horses” scribe Will Smith. “Rivals” star Danny Dyer is joined by David Morrissey (“Sherwood”) and Motaz Malhees (“200 Metres”) in the six-part series. Directed by “Time” helmer Lewis Arnold, it tells the story of the 1990 siege of the Iranian embassy in London, when 26 people were taken hostage. As the highly tense situation unfolded over six days, the U.K.’s special forces unit, the SAS, set out how to break the siege while the whole world was watching.
“The show is a heart-stopping, emotional thriller that reveals the little-known motivations of the hapless hostage-takers and the very human reality of what went on inside the embassy as the world looked on and Britain’s most lethal soldiers practiced their high stakes assault,” said Channel 4 chief content office Ian Katz. “It will change the way people understand the siege and reveal how close the famous SAS operation came to disaster. We’re thrilled to be working with Will Smith, Ben Macintyre, Lewis Arnold, Patrick Spence and the remarkable cast. This major commission underlines Channel 4’s commitment to dialling up exceptional drama in its slate of original British programming.”
The series will mark the first co-production between ARTE France and Channel 4, with NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution distributing.
Rounding out the drama slate is six-part drama “Wrong Move” from Roughcut TV. Created by Ben Edwards (“Coma”), it’s a dark comedy about “three families bound by one fatal mistake.” It follows three families in a house buying/selling chain who find themselves entangled with a psychopath. Channel 4’s interim head of drama calls it a “gripping, bold thriller” that “cleverly exposes just how high the stakes can be within the property chain and how much of a roller‑coaster the process becomes for our characters.”
The series will go into production this spring with casting to be announced later. Fremantle will distribute the series.
Source: variety.com
