This will come as good news to those who were instantly hooked by Craig Mazin’s historical drama.
Sky has announced that it will increase its spend on new original programming with the launch of Sky Studios, a new Europe-wide development and production house.
Under the Sky Studios plan, Sky’s investment in originals will more than double from its current level over the next five years.
The announcement comes not long after the huge success of its show Chernobyl, which was made in conjunction with HBO. The historical drama is currently the highest rated television series ever on IMDB and it looks like the UK TV giant is looking to explore this territory more.
Sky is well positioned for the foray into TV and drama as it already has a working relationship with NBC Universal through its parent company Comcast. It also has a working relationship with HBO, which has long been the arbiter of prestige television.
Jeremy Darroch, Group Chief Executive, Sky, said: “This is a transformational development for us. Sky Studios will drive our vision to be the leading force in European content development and production. Our ambition is to make Sky Studios famous for quality content and a place where Europe’s top creatives will want to do their best work.”
“Being part of Comcast enables us to increase our investment and to maximise the advantage and leverage of the Sky Group and our partners, NBC Universal. This is a clear signal of Comcast’s belief in our commitment to producing the best original content in Europe.”
New production already in the works
Sky Studios will be partnering up with Plan B Entertainment (Moonlight, The Departed, 12 Years A Slave) and internationally renowned theatre company Punchdrunk International to bring you its next release.
Production is due to begin next month on a six-part, limited drama series starring Jude Law called The Third Day. The show will be written by Dennis Kelly who was a writer on Pulling, and went on to create Utopia, an underrated Channel 4 show about a prophetic graphic novel written by a mental patient.
As described in Variety magazine, Law will star as: “Sam, who after being drawn to a mysterious Island off the British coast, is thrown into the unusual world of its secretive inhabitants. Isolated from the mainland, the rituals of the island begin to overwhelm him, and he is confronted by a trauma from his past. As the line between reality and fantasy blurs, Sam finds himself immersed in a quest that puts him at odds with the Islanders.”
Production will start on The Third Day in the UK this July and the show will air in the UK and Ireland next year on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW TV, and in the US on HBO.
Whatever happens, we were massive fans of Chernobyl here in the office and are excited to see more from this partnership.
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