Yesterday, at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Netflix and Orchid Pictures announced a 6-part series based on a collection of Roald Dahl’s short stories for adults adapted by Danny Brocklehurst. Production on the series is already underway in Manchester and across the North of England.
Brocklehurst weaves a deliciously twisted tale through Roald Dahl’s iconic short stories. A young couple, marooned in a faded seaside town, navigate conmen, adulterers, murderous mothers and snake charmers as they attempt to escape before their own fate is sealed…
The series is set to feature an all star cast led by Naomi Scott (Smile 2, Aladdin), Josh Finan (Say Nothing, Waiting For the Out), Imelda Staunton (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Crown), Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton, The Magic Faraway Tree), Toby Jones (Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, MobLand), Carmen Ejogo (The Penguin, True Detective), Dominic West (The Wire, The Crown), Christine Tremarco (Adolescence, The Responder), Michael Socha(The Cage, Showtrial) and Clarke Peters (The Boroughs, The Wire).
“The short stories of Roald Dahl were what first made me want to become a writer” says Brocklehurst in a statement. “His enthralling, macabre and always unexpected tales gave life to vibrant, larger than life characters like The Landlady, Mister Boggis and the mysterious Fingersmith. To be given the chance to bring these characters to life in a contemporary setting is a dream come true. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be partnering with Orchid Pictures, Netflix and this outstanding cast.”
Block 1 of the series is being directed by Runyararo Mapfumo (Sex Education, Kaos) whilst the Block 2 director is Ben Gregor (The Magic Faraway Tree, Brassic).