Robert Carlyle (‘Trainspotting’, ‘Once Upon A Time’) and Victoria Hamilton (‘The Crown’, ‘Deep State’) are set to star in a new drama ‘COBRA‘ for Sky One this Autumn which asks the question “what happens in the corridors of power during a time of national emergency?”
Carlyle stars as Prime Minister Robert Sutherland whilst Victoria Hamilton plays his Chief of Staff Anna Marshall, in the new Sky original production set in the heart of government during a major crisis.
The dram follows an unfolding national emergency that threatens to engulf the country as the COBRA committee, a team comprised of Britain’s leading experts, crisis contingency planners and most senior politicians fights to ensure the protection of the people of Great Britain.
The Prime Minister and his Chief of Staff must contend with impossible political decisions, whilst also wrestling with ferociously pressured personal lives. Not only do they bear the weight of public expectation and their family’s needs; they must also be mindful of their political opponents who will use any sign of weakness as an opportunity to strike.
“I am really looking forward to stepping into the role of the Prime Minister in a story that feels almost too true to be fiction,” comments Carlyle. “COBRA is a palpably thrilling and witty take on a political drama but with a humanity at the heart of the series.”
Written by Ben Richards (‘The Tunnel Sabotage’, ‘Strike: The Cuckoo’s Calling’) and produced by New Pictures (‘The Missing’, ‘Catherine The Great’) for Sky, the drama hurls us into the eye of the political storm, both inside the corridors of power and on the ground, as catastrophic events pull the nation further and further into the abyss.
Additional cast include Richard Dormer (‘Game of Thrones’, ‘Fortitude’) as Fraser Walker, Head of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat, David Haig (‘Killing Eve’, ‘Penny Dreadful’) as Archie Glover-Morgan, Home Secretary, Marsha Thomason (‘Better Things’, ‘White Collar’) as Francine Bridge MP and Lucy Cohu (‘Broadchurch’, ‘Forgiven’) as Rachel Sutherland, the Prime Minister’s wife.
“COBRA gives a fascinating look into the world of politics and power under pressure, brought to life so brilliantly by Ben Richard’s scripts,” adds Cameron Roach, Director of Sky Drama and Sky Studios. “It is a fantastic addition to our growing line up of home-grown British drama on Sky.”
Executive producers for ‘COBRA’ include Charlie Pattinson, Ben Richards, Jonathan Young and Nicola Larder. The commissioning editor for Sky is Gabriel Silver. The series was commissioned by Cameron Roach, Sky’s Director of Drama and Sky Studios and Zai Bennett, Director of Programming for Sky Entertainment UK & Ireland.
‘COBRA‘ will premiere on Sky One and NOW TV in Autumn 2019.
