Silverpoint: Adventure Awaits

A BAFTA-nominated sci-fi adventure series, Silverpoint follows a group of kids at camp who stumble on something buried in the woods that sends their lives spiraling out of control. The story originated from an idea by Steven Andrew and writer Lee Walters, and their collaboration resulted in an original live-action sci-fi drama about the mysterious disappearance of four children and the quest to discover what happened to them. “It’s a compelling and richly textured story that is unlike anything else currently in the tween space,” says Cheryl Taylor, creative director at Zodiak Kids & Family Productions UK.

Zodiak Kids & Family Productions UK’s partners on the project include BBC Children’s and ZDF/ZDF Studios, as well as Hulu and NI Screen. “Our partners all have a genuine commitment to original and imaginative live-action drama series that offer something different to a young audience,” Taylor says. “We shoot Silverpoint in Northern Ireland, and it’s invaluable to have local expertise, knowledge and support.”

The show has been referred to as a U.K. cousin to Stranger Things, a reference that Taylor is proud to accept. “There’s no doubt that interest in sci-fi has had a boost from the huge success enjoyed by the fictional inhabitants of Hawkins, Indiana! Silverpoint skews a little younger with its storytelling but there are common themes around the compelling characters, the power of friendship, courage, curiosity and other-worldly adventures.”

Season one was well-received and was nominated for best scripted and best writer at BAFTA’s Children & Young People Awards 2022. “Silverpoint is very different from other shows for 6 to 14s, and audiences loved the complex sci-fi mystery at the heart of the action,” Taylor says. “As well as the personal journeys our four misfit characters go on, they ultimately come together as a family of friends. Their resulting loyalty is beautifully played out and was a strong draw for audiences.”

She highlights that Walters’ writing is “full of remarkable twists and turns, and the many cliffhangers have kept audiences, including older family members, hooked.”

Walters has expanded the cast in season two, with the four protagonists sharing the limelight (as well as several new physical and cerebral challenges) with a group of fellow adventurers. “The narrative of season one was embellished with the unleashing of gigantic robots and wayward dinosaurs, and the second season delivers equally thrilling visual effects and encounters with magical creatures,” says Taylor. “Just at the moment when our protagonists, Team Dragonfly, think they’re going to find answers to the crucial questions posed by the first season, they’re presented with an even more complex mystery—one that bestows great responsibility on their young shoulders and which makes their search for the truth ever more pressing.”

The draw of the series is universal, Taylor says, as “all kids love intrigue and adventure, and science fiction offers some of the biggest mysteries of all—alien encounters are a tantalizing prospect! At the same time, our protagonists are dealing with individual issues that reflect the personal challenges that many kids experience. For young people to find themselves authentically reflected (and brought to life by a supremely talented cast of young actors) but in such an exciting and unique sci-fi arena is a genuine thrill.”

Seasons one and two are accompanied by the online Silverpoint: The Game, offering fans an immersive play-along experience of the complexities and various challenges faced in the show. There is also a community on the show’s dedicated social channels and YouTube, all of which offer episodic sneak peeks, behind the scenes, meet the characters and more.

“Silverpoint has an ambitious and fascinating script, extraordinary performers and exceptionally high production values,” Taylor says. “The live-action story is gripping, and the direction, original music and visual effects propel it to a level of sophistication that buyers find very attractive.”