Amazon expands UK originals slate with thriller ‘Wilderness’ & KSI doc from Louis Theroux

Georgia Brown

Amazon Studios has commissioned two new UK originals – psychological thriller Wilderness and a documentary about online star KSI for the Prime Video service.

The two new shows were announced last night by Amazon Studios head of European originals, Georgia Brown, and head of UK originals, Dan Grabiner, as part of a Q&A session in which they highlighted Prime Video’s commitment to producing in the UK.

Produced by Firebird Pictures, Wilderness is based on B.E. Jones’ novel of the same name and will be written, created, and executive produced by Marnie Dickens and executive produced by Elizabeth Kilgarriff. Filming is expected to start next year for a 2023 debut.

Described as “a twisted love story”, the series follows British couple Liv and Will, who seem to have it all – a rock-solid marriage, a glamorous new life in New York thousands of miles from their provincial hometown, and still young enough to feel that their whole lives are ahead of them. However, when Liv learns that Will has been having an affair, her pain begins to turn into thoughts of revenge.

“Wilderness is pure, unadulterated fun, where our heroine Liv says the things you wish you had the guts to, does the things you can only fantasise about, and lives by her own increasingly outrageous set of rules. I’m thrilled to bring the Prime Video audience along for her ride,” said Dickens.

Anansi Boys

Expanding the UK slate

The as-yet-unnamed documentary about British YouTuber and rapper KSI, meanwhile, is being produced by Mindhouse Productions with Louis Theroux attached to executive produce, for a 2022 premiere.

With more than 35 million subscribers to his YouTube channels, and recognisable to fans across the world, KSI, aka Olajide Olatunji or ‘JJ’ for short, is one of the most influential online stars of his generation. The film will follow KSI as he prepares for the biggest year of his career so far.

“It is a huge thrill to be working with JJ on this definitive documentary. He is a huge talent, a totally self-created phenomenon who has gone from bedroom bound nerd with a handful of subscribers to an online colossus with fans in the millions, purely through the power of his work ethic and his will to win,” said Theroux.

“The documentary will be an opportunity to see another side of JJ, understanding how he got where he is, the world of a premium online content creator today, and a man who has made it his brand never to lose, as he takes on the music business.”

These new commissions expand Amazon’s slate of UK originals, which also includes thriller The Rig, comedy Mammals, returning fantasy series Good Omens and the upcoming Anansi Boys.

Amazon also recently announced that season two of the as-yet-untitled series based on The Lord Of The Rings will film in the UK.