Some major casting news from Channel 4: Paddy Considine, America Ferrera, Alex Hassell and Kit Harington will lead Army of Shadows, a new six-part thriller from MobLand and The Day of the Jackal writer Ronan Bennett. Filming is now underway across Manchester, Liverpool, London and Paris, with Black Doves director Lisa Gunning directing all six episodes of the series.
Set in an occupied Great Britain, the series chronicles the early days of the British Resistance. From first kills and internal betrayals to propaganda campaigns, internment camps, and a climactic political assassination – this is a story about how freedom is taken and how it can be won back. And the question at its heart is timeless: What would you do if your country were occupied? A soldier, a student, a radiographer and a journalist each must decide whether they can continue looking away or risk everything by fighting back. Channel 4 has not revealed which characters Considine, Ferrera, Hassell and Harington will play.
The series is inspired by Jean-Pierre Melville’s 1969 film Army of Shadows and Joseph Kessel’s book of the same name, which explored the emergence of the French Resistance during the Nazi occupation of France. Bennett’s version relocates that central idea to Britain, asking what resistance would look like under a modern occupation and what ordinary people might be prepared to sacrifice. The series has been developed with the support of Melville’s family and the Kessel estate.
Ronan Bennett comments “I’m thrilled to be working with the teams at Channel 4, Studio Canal, Two Cities and CANAL+ on such great source material, and I’m delighted to have such strong support from the Melville family. Democracy is once again in clear and present danger. Resistance to fascism is – and must always be – a permanent struggle. This is a story about commitment, resistance and defiance in the coming age.”
Gemma Boswell, Commissioning Editor, Drama at Channel 4 said, “Army of Shadows is a gripping and provocative drama that speaks directly to our times. Ronan Bennett’s vision is bold and uncompromising, reimagining a classic story with thrilling and emotional depth.”
Army of Shadows is co-produced by Studiocanal and Two Cities Television, the STV Studios-owned company behind Blue Lights and Patrick Melrose. Studiocanal developed the project with Two Cities Television and will oversee international sales and worldwide distribution. Canal+ has also commissioned the series for its network across more than 50 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. A UK release date has not yet been announced.
For CultureCues, this already has a lot going for it. The premise is genuinely interesting, and with such a stacked cast plus Ronan Bennett and Lisa Gunning behind it, Army of Shadows looks very promising. We are especially curious to find out who everyone is playing and how this version of Britain came to be. This is firmly going on our watch list. Resistance is coming.
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