08:17 PST 1/23/2021
by
Alex Ritman
‘This Sceptred Isle’ will tell the story of the most devastating events the United Kingdom has ever had, and of a Prime Minister who led in this unprecedented time.
Kenneth Branagh will play British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the upcoming limited series of Michael Winterbottom showing the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Entitled This Sceptred Isle and produced by Fremantle, Richard Brown’s Passenger and Michael Winterbottom’s Revolution Films, the five-part drama was also recorded by Comcast’s European broadcaster Sky, which is described as a Sky Original series.
This Sceptred Isle will tell the story of the most devastating events that have ever befallen the United Kingdom, and of a Prime Minister who led in this unprecedented time. The drama will trace the impact on Britain of this one-off pandemic and the reaction of scientists, nurses and doctors as they worked tirelessly and heroically to curb and overcome the virus.
It is based on the first-hand testimony of people from all walks of life; from 10 Downing Street, the Department of Health, the Emergency Scientific Advisory Group (SAGE), and hospitals and care facilities across the country.
Michael Winterbottom co-wrote the series with Kieron Quirke and will handle all five episodes. He will also supply executive products with Brown (Passenger). Melissa Parmenter (Revolution Films) will co-produce with Josh Hyams and Anthony Wilcox. Tim Shipman, political editor of The Sunday Times, acts as a consultant for the series.
This Sceptred Isle is the first project to emerge from a multi-year first-look agreement for drama series signed by Fremantle and Passenger with Revolution Films.