Paramount+ has released the First Look imagery for the upcoming UK Original Drama, The Doll Factory. The series is produced by Buccaneer and is adapted from the Sunday Times bestselling novel of the same name by Elizabeth Macneal. Filming for the series wrapped earlier this year in Ireland. The collection of the ten images released include the four leads, in addition to Pippa Haywood, Sharlene Whyte, Reece Kenwyne-Mpudzi and Saoirse-Monica Jackson.
London, 1851. Iris paints dolls for a living, alongside her twin sister, Rose, but dreams of becoming an artist. By night, she secretly paints herself naked, honing her craft. Silas is a taxidermist who owns a shop filled with his creations. He hopes to one day find an item so unique he will be catapulted to fame. Louis is a painter and member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, searching for his next muse. In a city humming with anticipation for the Great Exhibition, their three worlds collide, and Iris is offered an opportunity to escape and start a new life. To do so, she must abandon her sister, sacrifice her reputation, and launch herself into the unknown. As Iris’ world expands, she finds herself challenging patriarchal beliefs, exploring her sexuality, and starting to experience the things she has always dreamed of. But alongside her newfound independence, a story of dark obsession begins to unfold.
Leading the cast as Iris is Esmé Creed-Miles (Hanna), Éanna Hardwicke (The Sixth Commandment) is taxidermist Silas, Mirren Mack (The Witcher: Blood Origin, The Nest) is Rose, Iris’s twin sister and George Webster (Wedding Season, Masters of the Air) is painter Louis.
The series also stars Pippa Haywood (Magpie Murders), Sharlene Whyte (Stephen), newcomer Reece Kenwyne-Mpudzi, Freddy Carter (Shadow and Bone), Saoirse-Monica Jackson (Derry Girls), Laurie Kynaston (The Sandman), Jim Caesar (The Witcher), Akshay Khanna (Chloe), Aysha Kala (The Undeclared War) and Nell Hudson (Outlander).
Tony Wood, Anna Burns and Richard Tulk-Hart are Executive Producers for Buccaneer. Charley Miles is the series screenwriter and is also Executive Producer. Sacha Polak (Hanna, Dirty God) is Director, Cathy Brady (Wildfire, Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope) is the second Director, whilst Suzanne McAuley (Magpie Murders, Maigret) is Series Producer and Julie Harkin (I May Destroy You, Becoming Elizabeth) is Casting Director.
Cineflix Rights will be distributing the series internationally and public broadcasters SBS in Australia, and New Zealand’s TVNZ have also boarded the historic thriller.
