Production News

Bookmark and Share
21/04/2016

Sky Atlantic And SHOWTIME Announce New Commission With Idris Elba

News Image
Sky Atlantic and SHOWTIME have teamed up with Academy Award-winning writer John Ridley and Golden Globe winner Idris Elba for new commission, Guerrilla.

Academy Award winner John Ridley (American Crime, 12 Years a Slave) will write, direct and executive produce Guerrilla, a new 6 x 60' series set to air on Sky Atlantic that centres on a couple whose passion propels them into making the leap from political activism to radical militancy.

Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award winner Idris Elba (Luther, Beasts of No Nation) will co-star and serve as an executive producer through his Green Door Pictures. Ridley will write the majority of the episodes and will direct the first two.

Guerrilla is a love story set against the backdrop of one of the most politically explosive times in UK history. It tells the story of a politically active couple whose relationship and values are tested when they liberate a political prisoner and form a radical underground cell in 1970s London.

Their ultimate target becomes the Black Power Desk, a true-life, secretive counter-intelligence unit within Special Branch dedicated to crushing all forms of black activism.

Whilst the series is set against a background of social and political activism, at its heart Guerrilla is about a relationship under pressure, and the reality that for any couple there comes a point when the choices they make have real and lasting consequences.

Commenting on the commission, Idris 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."

John 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, and believe we have great partners on the producorial level, and with our broadcasters Sky Atlantic and SHOWTIME."

Anne Mensah, Head of Drama for Sky, added: "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. We are so excited to add it to our slate of new dramas."

And David Nevins, President and CEO of Showtime Networks Inc, said: "We're excited to partner with our friends at Sky to bring a fascinating and unexplored story spearheaded by John and Idris, two major creative talents at the top of their game. Guerrilla will surely keep our audience at their edge of their seats." 

Guerrilla is part of Sky's commitment to offer customers brand new original drama all year round. Commissioned for Sky by head of drama Anne Mensah, commissioning editor Cameron Roach and director of Sky Atlantic Zai Bennett, the series will be a co-production between Fifty Fathoms and ABC Signature.

Alongside John Ridley for his International Famous Players Radio Picture Corporation, the executive producers will be Patrick Spence and Katie Swinden for Fifty Fathoms (Fortitude, Marvellous), Tracy Underwood for ABC Signature, Idris Elba for Green Door Pictures and Michael McDonald for Stearns Castle.  

Production is set for late summer 2016 in London. 

sky.com/sky-atlantic
Solidmate Ltd Memory Card Hire London

Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.

09/02/2024
Sky Brings Together Sky Content And Sky Studios
Sky has announced that all of its non-sports content teams in the UK & Ireland, will come together under one leadership structure, led by Cécile Frot-
21/04/2023
Sky Mobile Sponsors Britains Got Talent
Sky Mobile is the new headline sponsor of one of the country's biggest and best loved TV programmes, Britain's Got Talent. The iconic show returns for
01/12/2023
Sky And Fastweb Sign Multi-Year Partnership
Sky and Fastweb have signed a multi-year partnership to launch Sky Mobile in Italy in early 2024. Powered by Fastweb, Sky Mobile will offer a reliable
15/05/2023
Sky Business TV Teams Up With Sky Connect
Sky Business TV and Sky Connect have joined teamed up to create one Sky Business. The integration brings together teams that are experts in their fiel
21/07/2023
QVC Launches On Sky Glass And Sky Stream
QVC has launched its linear TV channels on Sky Glass and Sky Stream, promoting a range of categories and products. Included in Sky’s 600 channels rang
12/05/2023
EFL Approves Domestic Rights Deal With Sky Sports
EFL clubs have approved a domestic rights deal with broadcaster Sky Sports worth £935 million over a five-year period with over 1,000 matches to be br
18/02/2010
Sky Movies Showcase HD Channel
Sky Movies have now announced a number of changes to its channel line-up in a bid to make it easier for viewers to find the movies they want to watch
03/10/2016
Sky Launches New Virtual Reality App
Sky has launched a new app, Sky Virutal Reality (VR). The app, which is available to download free, features a range of immersive, 360-degree videos f
23/03/2007
BSkyB Creates London Networked Media Distribution Centre Based On DayPort
Dayport recently secured an order from BSkyB (Sky) to create a Networked Media Distribution Centre – NMDC - to be based at its headquarters in West Lo
11/11/2019
Sky And BBC Agree New Partnership
Broadcasters Sky and the BBC have agreed a new partnership that will see the companies collaborate across content and technology. The BBC iPlayer app
31/10/2019
Production News : Sky And WarnerMedia Expand Partnership
Sky and WarnerMedia, the home of HBO, Turner and Warner Bros., have expanded their partnership to include new programming and co-production agreements
23/06/2023
Sky Unveils Sky Live
Sky has unveiled Sky Live, the clever entertainment device that will transform the way you use your TV. Exclusive to Sky Glass, the new interactive ca
03/02/2011
Sky Sweeps In From Atlantic
This week's launch of Sky Atlantic means a new strategy for Sky as it looks to diversify its customer base and a change in direction for the broadcast
20/07/2001
SKY+ PROVIDES DIGITAL ALTERNATIVE TO VIDEOTAPE
BRITISH SKY Broadcasting (BSkyB) have unveiled Sky+, their new fully integrated Personal Television Recorder and Service (iPTR), and announced that th
07/11/2022
Sky Rolls Out Sky Up Tech Grants Initiative
Sky has announced the roll-out of its Sky Up Tech Grants initiative with an investment of £220,000 to provide young people with equipment and connecti