ITV is heading off-world for its latest drama commission, with ‘First Woman‘ bringing together Andrea Riseborough (To Leslie, The Good Boy, Goodbye June) and Ashley Walters (Adolescence, Top Boy, Missing You) for a six-part lunar thriller that sounds like a proper high-concept mystery.
Created by Lydia Yeoman (Curfew) and George Oakes, and directed by Philip Martin, the series begins when Ben Reith is woken in his London home and told that his wife Claire has gone missing. That would be bad enough under normal circumstances, but Claire happens to be an astronaut on the UK’s first moonbase, and she has vanished into the long lunar night.
Claire is also the first woman to set foot on the moon, taking part in a major research mission as a biologist. Her disappearance soon becomes a global news story, with suspicion falling on the other astronauts on the base, along with a rival Chinese outpost. Back on Earth, Ben is left trying to piece together what happened from hundreds of thousands of miles away, turning ‘First Woman’ into both a space-age thriller and a story about how much two people can really know each other.
The drama comes from Mammoth Screen, Alcon Television Group and ZDF Germany, with ITV Studios handling international distribution. That is a pretty heavyweight production line-up, and ITV is clearly aiming big here. Filming is already underway in Belfast, with the team making use of Studio Ulster to create the moonbase and lunar landscapes, so this sounds like it is going to have a serious scale to match the premise.
Riseborough said: “As a kid, I dreamed, perhaps more than anything, of space. Of emptiness and stars, and the vastness of all that those ‘grounded’ reflected on in verse. I can’t imagine a kinder, bolder, braver team than Philip and Ashley with whom to step into that realm. This will be endlessly compelling – I hope – for all who want to journey with us. I cannot wait.”
Walters added: “What an honour to be a part of such a bold and propulsive drama with a team of people that I have dreamt of working with. I always want to be a part of projects that make us converse and think outside the box. This one does just that.”
ITV’s Director of Drama Polly Hill said: “I wanted ITV to make this the moment I read it. The team that has come on board on and off screen is incredible, and a testament to the wonderful and original scripts. Ashley Walters and Andrea Riseborough are such exciting casting, and Philip Martin is going to take the audience on such an incredible journey, that I am thrilled to share with the audience.”
It is still early days, so there is no air date yet, but between the cast, the concept, and the scale ITV seems to be putting behind it, ‘First Woman’ already looks like one to watch.
‘First Woman‘ does not yet have a premiere date but will air on ITV in the UK. If you want to keep track of this or any other shows, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date. Visit Never Miss.
Photo credits: Andrea Riseborough by Pip, Ashley Walters by Jamie Keith.
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