Sky & Amazon Align for Drama Co-Pro

LONDON/LOS ANGELES: Sky and Amazon are joining forces for the new original drama series Britannia, written by Jez Butterworth (Jerusalem, Spectre).

The ten-part drama is set in the year 43 AD, when the Roman Imperial Army returns to crush the Celtic heart of Britannia. Britannia is shooting on location in Prague and Wales and will air on Sky 1 in the U.K. and Ireland and be available on Amazon Prime Video in the U.S. in 2017. The series stars Kelly Reilly (True Detective, Sherlock Holmes), David Morrissey (The Walking Dead, The Hollow Crown), Zoë Wanamaker (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, My Family) and Stanley Weber (Outlander).

The international distribution rights (excluding the U.S.) for Britannia will be handled by Sky Vision.

Butterworth said: “Besides being hard, hard warriors, the Celts have a belief system which makes them almost invincible. It’s a deep, heavy magic. Last time the Romans tried to invade, the mighty Julius Caesar took one look, turned round and went straight home. Now, almost a century later, the Romans are back. I’m fascinated in what happens when gods die. When an entire, ancient faith stalls, topples, collapses—and a whole new one grows in its place. New names, new faces, to suit the new times. Here we have a war between two pantheons—the Roman gods v the Celtic gods. It’s the Heavyweight Clash of All Time, the one which most shapes who we are today. And we see it all from a human perspective, of individual survival, ambition, courage, lust, loss, revenge. All the stuff the gods have always loved us humans for the most!”

Reilly said: “I am thrilled to be joining the production of Britannia, a story rooted in the heart of our ancient history. Collaborating with great creative minds is what I love most about my job, and having one of Britain’s leading playwrights, Jez Butterworth, come on board to bring Celtic Britain alive has made this a fiercely exciting project. The vision is big and bold and beautiful, and I can’t wait to get my hands dirty.”

Morrissey added: “I have been a fan of Jez’s writing for a long, long time, so to get the chance to work with him on this epic tale is very exciting. His dialogue and storytelling are second to none. I am also really looking forward to working with the brilliant cast that has been assembled for Britannia—I just hope I get a nice horse!”

Anne Mensah, Sky’s head of drama, commented: “This is one of the most ambitious dramas we’ve ever made and one of the most exciting. Jez Butterworth has written an incredible drama that is entertaining and emotional but also asks important questions about what drives men and women to stand and fight. This is a battle for the heart of Britain like you’ve never seen before.”

Roy Price, VP of digital video and Amazon Studios, said: “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Sky on our first series entirely produced overseas. Our customers will experience a cinematic world with bold characters anchored in a ruthless period of history.”