Netflix orders ‘One Day’ series among five UK originals

The 2011 feature film ‘One Day’

Netflix has commissioned a slew of new UK-based productions, as it continues to build upon its investment in originals from the country.

Anne Mensah, Netflix’s VP of UK series, this week announced five new shows to start filming in the country in 2022, with the streamer having previously revealed a record-breaking UK production spend of $1bn this time last year.

Supacell is a six-part sci-fi series written by musician-turned-filmmaker Rapman, which follows a group of ordinary people from South London unexpectedly develop super powers with no clear connection between them other than them all being Black.

Rapman will also direct and executive produces alongside Mouktar Mohammed and associate producer Henrietta Lee, from New Wave.

One Day is based on the novel by David Nicholls, which was previously adapted as a film in 2011. It is an epic, tragi-comic love story, with every episode catching up with central characters Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew on one particular day – 15 July – as they grow and change, move together and apart, experience joy and heartbreak, over the years.

Nicole Taylor leads a writing team that includes Anna Jordan, Vinay Patel and Bijan Sheibani, while Drama Republic is producing alongside Universal International Studios and Focus Features.

Produced by Left Bank Pictures and written by Ripley Parker, The Fuck It Bucket follows 17-year-old Mia, who is released from hospital after a lengthy battle with anorexia nervosa, and decides the only way to catch up on a childhood that is racing by without her is to make a bucket list.

Andy Harries, Sian McWilliams, Ripley Parker and Rob Bullock will executive producer, while Huberta Von Lie will produce.

The Crown

Sister, Sister

Eric is a thriller series hailing from Abi Morgan that follows what happens when a young boy goes missing in 1980s Manhattan. His father, Vincent, a puppeteer on America’s leading kids’ TV show, finds solace through his friendship with Eric, the monster that lives under his son’s bed.

The series is produced by Sister in association with Little Chick, with Jane Featherstone and Lucy Dyke exec producing for Sister and Morgan for Little Chick.

Also produced by Sister, the eight-part Kaos is described as a “darkly funny, contemporary spin on the Greek myths” that explores love, power and the Underworld. Charlie Covell is writing the series, while Featherstone and Chris Fry are executive producing for Sister. Katie Carpenter is attached as series producer and Harry Munday is producer. Davies and Covell will serve as executive producers as well as Nina Lederman.

“Netflix UK is building on success — it’s hard to top the virtuosity and global impact of our existing, award-winning British series,” commented Mensah, who highlighted the success of other UK-produced shows such as The Crown and Sex Education.