WWII-Set World on Fire Leads ITVS GE Drama Slate

ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) has unveiled its spring drama slate, led by Mammoth Screen’s World on Fire.

The 7×1-hour multi-stranded drama for BBC One tells the story of World War II through the lives of ordinary people from all sides of the global conflict. World on Fire is written by multi-award-winning Peter Bowker and stars Helen Hunt, Sean Bean and Lesley Manville alongside newcomers Jonah Hauer-King, Julia Brown and Zofia Wichlacz.

Also from Mammoth Screen is the adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s best-selling novel series Noughts + Crosses. Set in a dangerous alternate world, the 6×1-hour series tells the story of Sephy, a member of the black ruling class, and Callum, a member of the white underclass, who are divided by their color but united by a forbidden love and burning injustice. Noughts + Crosses stars Helen Baxendale (Cold Feet, Cuckoo), Paterson Joseph (Timeless, Peep Show), Jack Rowan (Peaky Blinders, Born to Kill) and newcomer Masali Baduza. It is executive produced by Participant Media and Roc Nation for BBC One.

Rob Lowe (West Wing, Parks and Recreation) stars as the high-flying U.S. police chief Bill Hixon, who is tasked with shaking up the Lincolnshire Police Force in Wild Bill. The 6×1-hour series is from 42, Anonymous Content and Shiver for ITV.

From Oscar-nominated screenwriter Jeff Pope (Stan & Ollie, Philomena, Little Boy Blue) comes A Confession, a suspenseful, contemporary drama that centers on a true-crime story. It brings into question how we want our police to act in their pursuit of justice. The 6×1-hour drama features Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, Sherlock) alongside Imelda Staunton (Maleficent, Harry Potter) and is produced by ITV Studios and Urban Myth Films for ITV.

The Bay from Tall Story Pictures for ITV is written by Daragh Carville (Being Human, The Smoke). The crime story, which plays out across six one-hour episodes, is rooted in the families and communities of a distinctive coastal town. Morven Christie (Granchester, The A Word) stars.

Written by BAFTA-winner Danny Brocklehurst (Clocking Off, Accused), Brassic follows a group of working-class friends who find unconventional ways to win at life. Central characters include Vinnie (Joseph Gilgun, This Is England), a Lancashire lad with bipolar disorder, and Dylan (Damien Molony, Ripper Street), his razor-smart best mate. The 6×1-hour project comes from Calamity Films Production for Sky One.

Gold Digger, produced by Mainstreet Pictures for BBC One, is a contemporary, character-driven relationship thriller that tells the story of Julia, a wealthy woman who falls in love with Benjamin, a much younger man with a shrouded past. Julia Ormond (Sabrina, Legends of the Fall) stars alongside Ben Barnes (Westworld, The Punisher) in the 6×1-hour series.

Shane Meadows reunites with This Is England co-creator Jack Thorne and actor Stephen Graham (Boardwalk Empire, Taboo) for The Virtues. The 4×1-hour Warp Films production for Channel 4 is a gritty story of love and redemption.

The 4×1-hour 15 Days comes from Boom Pictures for Channel 5. Billed as a human drama and original crime thriller, the story starts with a brutal murder, before rewinding immediately by 15 days to unleash the chain of events that led to that moment.

Ruth Berry, managing director of ITV Studios Global Entertainment, said, “Our 2019 spring drama slate is stronger than we could have ever imagined. It is bursting with world-class drama; each one I am pleased to say we have backed all the way from its inception. Our drama festival is the perfect setting for buyers to be immersed in these incredible stories and to see and hear first-hand from their talented creators what it has taken to craft them into the masterpieces they see on screen today.”