Paramount+ Commissions The Castaways Adaptation

Paramount+ has commissioned a five-part series adaptation of Lucy Clarke’s best-selling thriller novel The Castaways from Clapperboard Studios and BlackBox Multimedia.

The Castaways centers on sisters Lori and Erin, whose planned trip of a lifetime to Fiji is ruined after a huge fight. Only Lori boards the plane, which ends up disappearing without a trace. The story follows both Erin’s investigation into the plane’s disappearance and Lori’s struggle for survival on a tropical and remote desert island.

Sheridan Smith (Mrs. Biggs, The C Word, Quartet, The Railway Children Return) has been cast as Lori, while Celine Buckens (Showtrial, Warhorse, The Ex-Wife) has been tapped as Erin.

Ben Harris (Young Wallander, Devils, Marcella) is serving as executive producer and lead writer, sharing episode writing responsibilities with Polly Buckle and Jesse O’Mahoney. Andy Tohill and Ryan Tohill (Dagliesh, The Dig) are directors for the show, with Myf Hopkins serving as the producer. Tee series will be distributed by BBC Studios.

“I’m so excited to be working with Céline Buckens and to be part of this amazing production bringing Lucy Clarke’s best-selling novel to life,” Smith said. “And, as I’m currently playing Shirley Valentine in London’s West End, it’s ironic that I finally get to go Greece!”

Buckens added, “I’m really thrilled to bring Erin to life. She’s a firecracker, and the scripts bring layers and darkness to such an arresting premise. I hope audiences will be as hooked watching it as I was reading it.”

“I’m so delighted that The Castaways is being made for Paramount+,” Clarke commented. “It promises to be an incredible adaptation; the scriptwriting is electric, and Sheridan and Céline are perfectly cast as Lori and Erin. It is such fun working with the teams at Clapperboard and BlackBox who couldn’t be more passionate about bringing my novel to life.”

Clapperboard’s Mike Benson said: “Both ourselves and Blackbox are absolutely delighted to be working once again with two of the U.K.’s most remarkable actresses in Sheridan and Céline

“In Ben Harris we have one of the most empathetic and thrilling writers and both he and the writing team have done a tremendous job adapting Lucy’s gripping novel. We’re determined to deliver a fantastic series for our friends and partners at Paramount+ and BBC Studios.”