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Idris Elba to star in Sky's 1970s political drama Guerrilla Idris Elba to star in Sky's 1970s political drama Guerrilla
(35 minutes later)
Idris Elba will star in a new Sky Atlantic drama Guerrilla about an underground cell in 1970s London by the Oscar-winning writer of 12 Years a Slave.Idris Elba will star in a new Sky Atlantic drama Guerrilla about an underground cell in 1970s London by the Oscar-winning writer of 12 Years a Slave.
The six-part series by John Ridley will be Elba’s first TV drama since BBC1’s Luther.The six-part series by John Ridley will be Elba’s first TV drama since BBC1’s Luther.
Elba will also be one of the executive producers on the show which will be co-produced by his production company, Green Door Pictures.Elba will also be one of the executive producers on the show which will be co-produced by his production company, Green Door Pictures.
The series was announced by Sky on Wednesday, one of a number of new Sky dramas including projects involving Game of Thrones star John Bradley, Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks, Julia Stiles, Dawn French, Tim Roth and The Crying Game director Neil Jordan.The series was announced by Sky on Wednesday, one of a number of new Sky dramas including projects involving Game of Thrones star John Bradley, Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks, Julia Stiles, Dawn French, Tim Roth and The Crying Game director Neil Jordan.
Elba said: “It’s been a long time desire of mine to collaborate with Mr Ridley and his work here is nothing short of a masterclass in character building and storytelling. TV is in for a treat.”Elba said: “It’s been a long time desire of mine to collaborate with Mr Ridley and his work here is nothing short of a masterclass in character building and storytelling. TV is in for a treat.”
Guerrilla tells the story of a politically active couple who liberate a political prisoner and form a radical underground cell. Their target becomes the “black power desk”, a true life counterintelligence unit within Special Branch.Guerrilla tells the story of a politically active couple who liberate a political prisoner and form a radical underground cell. Their target becomes the “black power desk”, a true life counterintelligence unit within Special Branch.
Ridley said: “I am both humbled by and impressed with Idris’s passion towards bringing this story to life. I share his commitment for populating the culture with driven and complicated people of colour.”Ridley said: “I am both humbled by and impressed with Idris’s passion towards bringing this story to life. I share his commitment for populating the culture with driven and complicated people of colour.”
Ridley will also executive produce and direct the first two episodes of the series which will air in the US on Showtime.Ridley will also executive produce and direct the first two episodes of the series which will air in the US on Showtime.
The series is a co-production between Fifty Fathoms, maker of Sky Atlantic’s Arctic Circle murder mystery Fortitude, and ABC Signature Studios in the US.
Sky’s head of drama Anne Mensah said: “Rarely does a project pitch the personal and the political in such a flawless combination. Guerrilla presents characters you will fall in love with but also a world and a part of black British history that is rarely tackled in such a bold and compelling manner.”Sky’s head of drama Anne Mensah said: “Rarely does a project pitch the personal and the political in such a flawless combination. Guerrilla presents characters you will fall in love with but also a world and a part of black British history that is rarely tackled in such a bold and compelling manner.”
Dragons, gangsters and Cornish home cooking
Game of Thrones star John Bradley will appear will star in an epic medieval adventure The Last Dragonslayer, based on the first of Jasper Fforde’s series of novels.Game of Thrones star John Bradley will appear will star in an epic medieval adventure The Last Dragonslayer, based on the first of Jasper Fforde’s series of novels.
It will co-star Ellise Chappell and The Royle Family’s Ricky Tomlinson and air on Sky 1 at Christmas.It will co-star Ellise Chappell and The Royle Family’s Ricky Tomlinson and air on Sky 1 at Christmas.
Tim Roth will appear with Christina Hendricks in a 10-part contemporary take on the western genre, Tin Star, written by acclaimed screenwriter Rowan Joffe. The Sky Atlantic series is set in the Rocky Mountains and described as an “epic revenge thriller”.Tim Roth will appear with Christina Hendricks in a 10-part contemporary take on the western genre, Tin Star, written by acclaimed screenwriter Rowan Joffe. The Sky Atlantic series is set in the Rocky Mountains and described as an “epic revenge thriller”.
Julia Stiles, Matt Damon’s co-star in the Bourne series of films, heads up Sky Atlantic’s Riviera, a 10-part thriller set in the south of France written and directed by Neil Jordan based on an idea by former US manager, Paul McGuinness. Julia Stiles, Matt Damon’s co-star in the Bourne series of films, heads up Sky Atlantic’s Riviera, a 10-part thriller set in the south of France created by Oscar-winning writer and director Neil Jordan and based on an idea by former U2 manager, Paul McGuinness.
Stiles is a widow whose billionaire husband is killed in a yacht explosion, only to find that his fortune was built on crime, double dealing and murder. She proves herself more than capable of filling his shoes.Stiles is a widow whose billionaire husband is killed in a yacht explosion, only to find that his fortune was built on crime, double dealing and murder. She proves herself more than capable of filling his shoes.
Elsewhere, Dawn French will star in four-part drama Delicious for Sky 1, set in Cornwall and described as a “compelling story of love, heartbreak, food and female friendship”.Elsewhere, Dawn French will star in four-part drama Delicious for Sky 1, set in Cornwall and described as a “compelling story of love, heartbreak, food and female friendship”.
And Downton Abbey producer Carnival Films will make Jamestown, an eight-part Sky 1 series about the early days of the first British settlers in America, starring Max Beesley, Jason Flemyng and Dean Lennox-Kelly.And Downton Abbey producer Carnival Films will make Jamestown, an eight-part Sky 1 series about the early days of the first British settlers in America, starring Max Beesley, Jason Flemyng and Dean Lennox-Kelly.