Home TV News Olivia Colman To Star In New Sky/HBO Original Drama ‘Landscapers’

Olivia Colman To Star In New Sky/HBO Original Drama ‘Landscapers’

by Dave Elliott

Olivia Colman To Star In New Sky/HBO Original Drama ‘Landscapers’

Not content with just playing the Queen, Academy Award and BAFTA-winning actress Olivia Colman (‘The Favourite’, ‘The Crown’) is set to star in a new Sky/HBO original drama Landscapers from Sister, the people behind the multi-Emmy award-winning hit ‘Chernobyl’.

Inspired by real events, the drama explores the lives of convicted killers Susan (Colman) and Christopher Edwards (casting TBC) and asks how this devoted and mild-mannered couple came to kill Susan’s parents and bury them in the back garden of their Mansfield home, in a crime that remained undiscovered for over a decade. This blackly comic, narratively playful true-crime drama is based on extensive research, hours of interviews and direct access to the accused, who have always protested their innocence of murder.

Pivoting through various perspectives from Susan and Chris, to the police officers and lawyers involved in the investigation, the drama also draws the audience into the surreal fantasy world that Susan and Christopher created by casting themselves as their Hollywood heroes in stories of their own invention. This is the story of a unique murder case involving four lives lived on the margins of society, that turns into an exhilarating and darkly funny exploration of love and fantasy: its power and its peril.

The four-part limited series will be directed by Academy Award winner Alexander Payne (‘The Descendants’, ‘About Schmidt’, ‘Sideways’) and is written by Ed Sinclair, husband of Olivia Colman, in his first television screenplay. ‘Landscapers’ is produced by Sister in association with South of the River Pictures, the new production company from Colman and Sinclair, for Sky and HBO.

“I love Ed’s scripts, which is just as well as he cooks many of my meals,” comments Olivia Colman, Actress and Executive Producer for South of the River Pictures. “No, the truth is it’s quite rare to be desperate to play a part on the first reading of a script, but that was the case here. The writing is brave, but subtle and tender too – a joy for any actor.”

Landscapers is the first original co-production from Sky and HBO since renewing their output deal last month, which extends the companies’ long-standing co-production partnership. It is also both broadcasters’ first new commission with Sister following their collaboration on the international hit Chernobyl which aired earlier this year, becoming Sky’s most successful original drama ever with over 4 million viewers and 10 Emmy Award wins.

“Ed’s scripts are a riveting and sensitive exploration of what could drive such an ordinary couple to commit murder and I’m delighted that Olivia Colman will bring Susan to life in what promises to be a compelling series,” adds Cameron Roach, Director of Drama, Sky Studios. “And after the success of the multi-award-winning Chernobyl, we’re pleased to be working with Sister on another original drama inspired by true events.”

The series was commissioned by Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content, Sky UK and Ireland, and Cameron Roach, Director of Drama, Sky Studios. Serena Thompson is the Executive Producer for Sky. Landscapers is produced by Sister in association with South of the River Pictures for Sky in association with HBO. The Executive Producers are Jane Featherstone (‘Chernobyl’, ‘The Split’) and Chris Fry (‘Giri/Haji’, ‘Chernobyl’) for Sister and Ed Sinclair and Olivia Colman for South of the River Pictures. Directed and Executive Produced by Alexander Payne, Landscapers is produced by Katie Carpenter (‘The Bisexual’, ‘Flowers’).

“The intelligence and deeply imaginative breadth of first-time screenwriter Ed Sinclair’s scripts sees a constant re-invention of the true-crime genre and it’s a testament to his writing that we have assembled a hugely experienced team of world-class creatives,” comments Jane Featherstone, Co-Founder, Sister. “Oscar-winning Olivia Colman is an extraordinary actor whose ability to disappear into a role is second to none and I’m thrilled to be reunited with her on this project. And with the incredible Alexander Payne at the helm, we are lucky to have a director whose skill for dark humour and character will ensure that Landscapers constantly surprises audiences.”

Landscapers will start filming in 2020 and will air on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in the UK and on Sky in Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland. International sales will be handled by NBCUniversal Global Distribution.

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