Channel 4 Commissions ‘Chivalry’ Post #MeToo Era Comedy-Drama From Sarah Solemani & Steve Coogan
Channel 4 has commissioned ‘Chivalry‘, a 6-episode comedy-drama, written by and starring Sarah Solemani (‘Him and Her’, ‘Barry’) and Steve Coogan (‘Alan Partridge’, ‘Philomena’). The series skewers and satirises the complex state of contemporary sexual politics, while asking if romance can survive in the post #MeToo era.
The story follows an unlikely couple who are put together by a cynical studio exec to salvage a failing movie. Bobby (Solemani), is a woke writer/director and mother of one, with a precarious relationship and a dodgy visa. She has industry heat after her successful, low-budget indie debut and is promised studio funding for her feminist Biblical biopic if she can rescue this sexually controversial thriller first.
Cameron (Coogan), is a successful film producer and “ladies man”, who has just been dumped by yet another twenty-something girlfriend (via WhatsApp). He knows he must detoxify his sexist movie or face ruin, and thus, an unlikely partnership is forged.
As Bobby and Cameron work through their gender tensions, a creeping attraction and the nagging feeling that they are just pawns in the studio’s agenda for a Saudi buyout, reshooting a toxic sex scene becomes the tip of the iceberg.
How fluid are our politics and how political are our fluids? And can romance blossom – not in spite of #MeToo, but because of it?
“Chivalry was born through a series of fiery debates with my comedy hero and renowned feminist, Steve Coogan,” comments Solemani. “I am thrilled to be working with him, Christine Langan and Channel 4 commissioner, Caroline Hollick, on bringing this timely story to the screen.”
“I am delighted to be working with the very funny, clever Sarah Solemani in the landscape of what in less enlightened times was called ‘the battle of the sexes’,” adds Coogan. “Chivalry is more of a painfully honest, funny fencing match. We will attack, riposte, lunge, parry and counter-parry and perhaps, when the bout is over, take off our masks revealing our true selves.”
Chivalry has been commissioned by Channel 4 Head of Drama Caroline Hollick and is a Baby Cow Production.
“With irresistible chemistry, Sarah and Steve have delivered a truly refreshing take on contemporary sexual politics with a liberating, modern spin on romance,” said Christine Langan CEO and Executive Producer, Baby Cow Productions. “Baby Cow is thrilled to be working with Channel 4 drama, whose bold appetite for good-humoured debate made it the natural home for Chivalry.”
No news on when ‘Chivalry‘ will premiere yet, but we’ll let you know when we hear more.
