David Farnor | On 20, May 2022

Sky has announced its largest ever slate of new programming, ranging across drama, comedy and original film.

Sky will launch more than 200 Sky Original shows across all genres this year – a 60 per cent increase from 2021. Among the new titles announced are a major adaptation of Heather Morris’ bestselling novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz, a life affirming and heartrending story of bravery and love in the darkest of places. And the return of the critically acclaimed dramas I Hate Suzie, starring Billie Piper – titled I Hate Suzie Too – and a third season of COBRA, starring Robert Carlyle, titled COBRA: Rebellion.

Also announced were three new original comedies, with Sheridan Smith in Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything, Romesh Ranganathan and Katherine Ryan teaming up for Romantic Getaway, and a new spin on a Christmas classic with Suranne Jones in Christmas Carole.

Adding to the line-up are a range of new Sky Original films; Letitia Wright stars in the drama Aisha, Colin Farrell stars in sci-fi drama After Yang, while Brian Cox, Jodie Turner-Smith, John Cena and Ann Dowd star in the political thriller The Independent, and Russell Crowe directs and stars alongside Liam Hemsworth in the thriller Poker Face.

Sky also announced that one of the first projects to be filmed at Sky Studios Elstree will be Universal Pictures’s film adaptations of the hit musical Wicked. When it opens later this year Sky Studios Elstree will house 13 studios and enable £3bn of production investment over its first five years of operation.

Speaking on the new commissions, Zai Bennett, Managing Director, Content Sky UK and Ireland, says: “Great stories have the power to help us connect with each other, and at its best entertainment isn’t something we watch, it’s something we feel and experience. That’s why we’re creating and investing in world-class original storytelling to give our customers even more of their favourite shows and films than ever before. We’re delighted to be working with some of the best UK and international talent, both on and off screen, to bring these stories to life.”

They join previously announced Sky Original series due to air this year, including This England starring Kenneth Branagh as Boris Johnson, The Midwich Cuckoos starring Keeley Hawes, Gangs of London Season 2 starring Sope Dirisu, Funny Woman staring Gemma Arterton and Brassic Season 4 staring Joe Gilgun and Michelle Keegan. Sky Original films on the way in 2022 include The Amazing Maurice starring Gemma Arterton, Emilia Clarke and Hugh Laurie, and Borderland starring Colin Morgan, Aml Ameen, Felicity Jones and Mark Strong.

Meanwhile, key acquired shows for 2022 on Sky include Stephen Moffat’s serialised adaptation of The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Flight Attendant Season 2 and Game of Thrones prequel House of the Dragon.

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