David Farnor | On 29, Jan 2022

The Midwich Cuckoos will arrive on our screens this summer, and a new trailer gives us a first look at Sky’s modern sci-fi horror.

The reimagining of John Wyndham’s classic novel stars Keeley Hawes and Max Beesley, with The Night Manager’s David Farr penning the script.

Midwich is a quiet commuter town where nothing much happens. That is, until the twilight hours of a late summer’s day, when everyone within a set area of the town falls unconscious. The curious incident seems temporary and those affected regain consciousness, but every woman of child-bearing age inside the zone has suddenly and inexplicably fallen pregnant. As the children of the phenomenon grow, it becomes clear they are not of this world.

The eight-part series will premiere on Sky Max and NOW this summer. Here’s the first trailer:

 

Keeley Hawes, Max Beesley to star in Sky’s The Midwich Cuckoos

29th April 2021

Keeley Hawes and Max Beesley will star in The Midwich Cuckoos, Sky’s new adaptation of Wyndham’s classic novel.

The dark, modern-day reimagining of the sci-fi tale was commissioned last year, with The Night Manager’s David Farr penning the script.

The eight-part series, produced by Route 24 (backed by ITV Studios) and Snowed-In Productions, in association with Sky Studios, introduces us to Midwich, a small English commuter town which is liberal and aspirational, populated by nuclear families and affluent high streets. It’s a place where nothing much happens – until the twilight hours of a summer’s day when a sleepy corner of Midwich is plunged into panic. People pass out on their feet without warning, without reason. Anyone who tries to enter meets the same fate. And nobody can understand why. When the mysterious blackout is lifted, life for those affected returns to apparent normality – except every woman of child-bearing age inside the zone has suddenly and inexplicably fallen pregnant.

As news spreads and tensions simmer, it is up to gifted psychotherapist Dr Susannah Zellaby to help support those affected through the emotional wilderness. Susannah’s own daughter, Cassie, has fallen pregnant and harbours deep concerns about who, or what, is behind this phenomenon.

Local officer DCI Paul Kirby is tasked with maintaining order but unbeknownst to them all, a terrifying force is building in the comfortable streets of Midwich. These children – potential parasites – flourish under the very love and care that their families give them. Who are these children? And what do they want?

BAFTA-nominated Keeley Hawes (Bodyguard, It’s A Sin) and Max Beesley (The Outsider, Suits) will star as Susannah and Paul, alongside Aisling Loftus (A Discovery of Witches), Ukweli Roach (Blindspot), Synnøve Karlsen (Last Night In Soho, Clique), Lara Rossi (Robin Hood), Lewis Reeves (I May Destroy You), Rebekah Staton (Raised by Wolves) and Anneika Rose (Line of Duty).

The Midwich Cuckoos was commissioned for Sky by Zai Bennett, Sky UK’s Managing Director of Content. Alice Troughton (Baghdad Central, Cucumber, A Discovery of Witches) is the lead director, with Jennifer Perrott (Gentleman Jack, Doctor Who) serving as director. The series is produced by Route 24 and Snowed-In Productions in association with Sky Studios. The executive producers are Marc Samuelson and Robert Cheek for Route 24 and Ruth Kenley-Letts and Neil Blair for Snowed-In Productions. Series producer is Eliza Mellor (Poldark, Behind Her Eyes).

Keeley Hawes, lead actor in The Midwich Cuckoos said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be working with Sky and the brilliant Ruth Kenley-Letts on David Farr’s superb adaptation of The Midwich Cuckoos. I’m very much looking forward to working with the hugely talented Max Beesley and the amazing cast and I can’t wait to enter the strange and unsettling world of Midwich!”

Production will begin in London this May.

 

David Farr to adapt The Midwich Cuckoos for Sky

6th July 2020

The Night Manager writer David Farr is adapting John Wyndham’s The Midwich Cuckoos for Sky.

Farr, who had a major hit in 2016 with the AMC and BBC co-production based on John le Carré’s 1993 novel, has since gone on to enjoy success with Amazon Prime Video, penning their series based on his own 2011 thriller, Hanna. With that show just dropping its second season alone, there’s no better time to pique interest in his next project.

That will see him head to Sky, reports Deadline, with Farr set to adapt John Wyndham’s classic novel The Midwich Cuckoos. The book, which was published in 1957, tells the eerie story of how an English village is impregnated by broody aliens. The creepy classic is spawns two screen adaptations, both known as Village of the Damned, one made in 1960 and one made in 1995. It’s also been turned into a radio drama by the BBC, starring Bill Nighy and Sarah Parish.

Now, hot on the heels of the several small screen adaptations of War of the Worlds, Sky is giving the miniseries treatment to the genre favourite. The eight-part thriller is based at ITV Studios-backed Route 24.

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