Universal Music’s Mercury Studios links with Yungblud for song-based drama

Dominic Richard Harrison (aka Yungblud)

Universal Music Group’s Mercury Studios has partnered with UK singer Dominic Richard Harrison (aka Yungblud) on a new scripted show based on one of the musician’s songs.

Mars is described as “a frank and funny short film of teenage self-discovery” that has been based on the song of the same name.

The short film, which TBI understands is intended for TV distribution, is being produced in partnership with Interscope Films (Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry) and is based on the story of a young fan Yungblud met on tour.

The story follows a day in the life of someone who has only ever wanted a ‘normal’ teenage existence, until one night makes her reassess what truly matters.

Playwright Chris Bush (Faustus: That Damned Woman) has written the screenplay, with Abel Rubinstein (Dungarees) attached to direct. Mercury will distribute, with the film targeted for release in Spring.

Yungblud said: “This story is an uncensored, unfiltered portrayal of youth. It revels in the fragile beauty of it, flirts with the pain of it and most importantly the undeniable, glimmering hope of it. It presents a generational shift towards acceptance of one’s self and others, and ever growing confidence in our own insecurities.”

Alice Webb, the former BBC Children’s exec who joined Mercury Studios as CEO in 2020, said: “By bringing this important story to the screen, [Yungblud] is giving a voice to young adults everywhere who are wrestling with the pressures of being themselves in a world that too often tries to define that for us.”

Mercury has been expanding its exec ranks of late by hiring Steve Condie as SVP of content and Raw Cut exec Frank MacDonald as head of development.