Sky and HBO have announced their first joint commission, a five part drama series set against the backdrop of the Chernobyl disaster.
Chernobyl is the first project to be commissioned through this partnership which sees the start of a £250 million multi-year co-production deal.
The series is a tale set against the backdrop of the worst man-made catastrophe in history, encompassing the full range of the human experience; lies, cowardice, courage, conviction, failure and nobility and will reveal how and why the disaster happened and the stories of the heroes who risked and sacrificed their lives to save others.
Chernobyl will star Jared Harris (The Crown, Mad Men) as Valery Legasov, a Soviet scientist selected to investigate the incident and is written by Crag Mazin (The Huntsman: Winter’s War). Adding to this high quality collaboration is the exciting Direction of Johan Renck (Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead) and the Emmy Award winning Production of Carolyn Strauss (Game of Thrones).
Gary Davey, managing director, content, Sky, said: “In Chernobyl, Craig Mazin has achieved something unique – his script is second to none, effortlessly combining the visceral, the tragic and the heroic perspectives behind this devastating event..”
Kary Antholis, president, HBO miniseries and Cinemax programming, said: “From the moment Craig Mazin pitched us the story, we were convinced that this all-too-true tale of horror and redemption needed to be told. It will engage – and enrage – our viewers, as well as audiences around the world.”
Chernobyl will begin filming in Lithuania in Spring 2018. It will air on Sky Atlantic and TV streaming service NOW TV in the UK and Ireland, and on Sky Atlantic in Italy, Germany and Austria.
