David Farnor | On 27, Apr 2022

“So what happens now?” That’s the sound of Natasha’s worst nightmares coming true in Sky’s horror-comedy The Baby – and a new trailer gives us a first glimpse of what’s in store.

Michelle De Swarte (The Duchess) stars as the 38-year-old, who is furious that her closest friends are all having babies. But when she is unexpectedly landed with a baby of her own, her life dramatically implodes. Controlling, manipulative but incredibly cute, the baby twists Natasha’s life into a surreal horror show. As she discovers the true extent of the Baby’s deadly nature, Natasha makes increasingly desperate attempts to get rid of it. She doesn’t want a baby – but the baby definitely wants her.

The eight-episode series is a co-production between Sky Studios and HBO, produced by SISTER (Chernobyl, Landscapers) and Proverbial Pictures. It premieres on Sky Atlantic and NOW this summer.

Watch this space for a release date. In the meantime, here’s the trailer:

 

Nicole Kassell to direct The Baby for Sky and HBO

4th January 2021

DGA and Emmy Award winner Nicole Kassell (Watchmen, The Leftovers) has boarded the Sky/HBO co-production The Baby as lead director.

Co-created by Siân Robins-Grace and Lucy Gaymer (credits as Production Manager include Gangs of London, Liar) and produced by SISTER (Giri/Haji, Chernobyl, Gangs of London) and Proverbial Pictures, the series is a raw examination of motherhood as an institution: a set of unspoken rules that affect women differently depending on how they’re viewed by society.

When 38 year-old Natasha is unexpectedly landed with a baby, her life of doing what she wants, when she wants, dramatically implodes. Controlling, manipulative and with violent powers, the baby twists Natasha’s life into a horror show. Where does it come from? What does it want? And what lengths will Natasha have to go to in order to get her life back?

The Baby is Robins-Grace’s screenwriting debut, following her work on critically-acclaimed hit Sex Education which she developed with creator Laurie Nunn. Also confirmed are writers Sophie Goodhart (Sex Education, My Brother Blind) Kara Smith (Kaos, Apple Tree House) Anchuli Felicia King (White Pearl, Golden Shield) and Susan Stanton (HBO’s Emmy-winning Succession) who join Siân Robins-Grace (Kaos, Sex Education) in the writers’ room with Bisha K. Ali (Ms.Marvel, Sex Education) as consultant. The team are set to gleefully deconstruct the joy of motherhood and explore the powerful anxiety of whether or not to have children.

Nicole Kassell said: “I am beyond honoured and thrilled to be reuniting with HBO and joining SKY and this incredible team to bring The Baby to fruition. I read Sian’s brilliant script early in lock down, and it cut straight through the noise and anxiety of our times, to take me on a wild, zany ride with wonderfully complex women grappling with the toughest of decisions any of us are lucky enough to make – to have or not have a child. Embracing comedy AND horror the show catapults us through an incredible adventure all while tackling the real-life explosions that the question of procreation can have on the self, family and friendships. To be working with the powerhouse producers that are SISTER, all women whose work and careers I have long admired, is a life-long dream. I’m ever grateful to have Sian, Lucy, and Sister embrace my vision and trust me with their baby.”  

Siân Robins-Grace and Lucy Gaymer said: “We can’t believe our luck that Nicole’s joining us on The Baby – her body of work speaks for itself. She’s a spectacular collaborator and creative, and working with her is an education. Our phenomenal team of writers are bringing the full force of their talent to the story. We’re surrounded by creative and technical brilliance, basically.”

The eight-episode first season will be filmed in the UK in 2021.

 

The Baby: Sky and HBO team up for dark comedy horror

14th August 2020

Sky and HBO are teaming up for The Baby, a dark comedy horror from debut screenwriter Siân Robins-Grace (who developed Netflix’s Sex Education with its creator Laurie Nunn).

Co-created by Robins-Grace and Lucy Gaymer (credits as Production Manager include Gangs of London, Liar) and produced by SISTER and Proverbial Pictures, the series is a raw examination of motherhood as an institution: a set of unspoken rules that affect women differently depending on how they’re viewed by society.

When 38 year-old Natasha is unexpectedly landed with a baby, her life of doing what she wants, when she wants, dramatically implodes. Controlling, manipulative and with violent powers, the baby twists Natasha’s life into a horror show. Where does it come from? What does it want? And what lengths will Natasha have to go to in order to get her life back?

The Baby deconstructs motherhood, exploring the powerful anxiety of whether or not to have children, questioning who gets to choose motherhood and who doesn’t.

Siân Robins-Grace and Lucy Gaymer said: “With The Baby we want to explore the powerful anxiety around the question of whether or not to have children. The ambivalence of not knowing, the bafflement at everyone else’s certainty and the suspicion that the whole thing is one millennia-long scam. We’re thrilled to be working with such a phenomenal team of producers to help us bring this weird baby into the world with HBO and Sky.”

Cameron Roach, Director of Drama, Sky Studios said: “The Baby is by turns dark, comedic, and horrifying. The vision that Siân and Lucy are bringing to life is truly unique.”

The eight-episode first season will be produced by SISTER and Proverbial Pictures and Executive Produced by Jane Featherstone (Chernobyl, GiriHaji), Carolyn Strauss (Chernobyl, Game of Thrones), Naomi de Pear (The Power, Flowers), Katie Carpenter (Landscapers, The Bisexual) and Siân Robins-Grace. Joining the female-led creative team as producer is Lucy Gaymer.

It will be filmed in the UK in 2021. 

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