BBC One has commissioned ‘The Tourist‘, a brand new mystery thriller from Harry and Jack Williams, the duo behind hits such as ‘The Missing’, ‘Baptiste’, and ‘Liar’, the broadcaster has announced today.
In the glowing red heart of the Australian outback, a British man is pursued by a vast tank truck trying to drive him off the road. An epic cat and mouse chase unfolds and The Man later wakes in hospital, hurt, but somehow alive. Except he has no idea who he is. With merciless figures from his past pursuing him, The Man’s search for answers propels him through the vast and unforgiving outback.
“The Tourist has one of the boldest and most brain-twistingly brilliant conceits which thriller fans will have experienced in a long time,” comments Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama. “We are delighted to be home to this inspired and utterly original idea and can’t wait to see how Jack, Harry and the exciting team at Two Brothers will bring it to life.”
‘The Tourist’ is a character-driven mystery packed thriller, full of shocking, surprising, funny and brutal turns. Set in a world populated by quirky, enigmatic characters, off-beat black comedy punctuates high-stakes action. The six-episode series twists and turns through the dusty outback of Australia, to the frantic noise and lights of Singapore, and to the calm, luxury white-sand beaches of Bali.
At its heart however, is a story of self-discovery with a ticking timebomb underneath: As The Man starts to uncover the mystery of who he was, he’s also forced to ask who he is now – and fast. Will he unlock the secrets of his identity before those who are trying to kill him catch up with him?
Existential questions sit alongside breathless storytelling, in a very real and very human story that everyone can relate to, played out across the almost mythic, landscape of the outback, a modern-day Wild West.
Harry and Jack Williams will write the series alongside Christopher Aird (‘Baptiste’, ‘Liar’, ‘Cheat’) which will be produced by their award-winning production company Two Brothers Pictures, in association with Stan – also announced as the Australian co-commissioning partner; Highview Productions; all3media international and the South Australian Film Corporation. Chris Sweeney (‘Liar’, ‘Back To Life’) is set to direct.
“The Tourist is a departure from anything we’ve written before. It isn’t an easy show to categorise – so we won’t,” add the Williams brothers. “We are, however, hugely excited to have Chris Sweeney on board as director, and to be making this for the BBC. We’re thankful for their support of this ambitious project.”
‘The Tourist’ is a Two Brothers Pictures (an all3media company) production for the BBC, in association with Highview Productions, all3media international, the South Australian Film Corporation and Stan. The 6×60′ drama will be exec produced by the Williams brothers, Aird and Sweeney for Two Brothers Pictures and Tommy Bulfin for the BBC. Lisa Scott (‘The Hunting’, ‘Pine Gap’) will produce. International sales will be handled by all3media international.
“It is fantastic to see acclaimed South Australian producer Lisa Scott partner with the Emmy-award winning producers of ‘Fleabag’ to bring this new series to SA,” commented CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation, Kate Croser.
Filming will begin on ‘The Tourist‘ later this year and casting will be announced in due course.
