BBC Slates Atlantis Doc & Drama

LONDON: A new drama set to air on BBC One recounts the legend of Atlantis, which is also the subject of a companion documentary slated for BBC Two.

Atlantis is a co-production from Discovery, BBC Worldwide, ProSieben and France Deux. The drama incorporates the latest CGI technology, using the virtual backlot production technique of the movie 300. Reece Ritchie (The Lovely Bones, Prince of Persia) and Stephanie Leonida (Yes, MirrorMask) star in Atlantis.

In a companion documentary on BBC Two, historian Bettany Hughes traces the origins of the Atlantis myth and presents evidence that the Thera eruption inspired Plato’s account of Atlantis.

Executive producer Ailsa Orr said: "Atlantis will immerse the viewer in a world they’ve never seen before, in a brand new, exciting way. The world of the Minoans and the disaster that wiped them out has been created using visual effects that have, to date, only ever been used in Hollywood movies. It offers our audiences a unique viewing experience—the closest they’ll ever get to one of the greatest natural disasters of all time."