Trailer: Small Axe arrives on BBC One this November
David Farnor | On 21, Sep 2020
“As individuals, we have an impossible battle. As a collective, we stand a chance.”
Steve McQueen’s Small Axe arrives on BBC One this November, and a new trailer gives us a full look at the series.
The anthology of hour-long stories was conceived and written by McQueen with Alastair Siddons and Courttia Newland (Alex Wheatle is a writing consultant). The six films tell five stories, with the first told across two episodes, and are set within London’s West Indian community from the late 1960s to the early 80s.
The title Small Axe is derived from a Jamaican proverb that has resonance throughout the Caribbean, “if you are the big tree, we are the small axe”. Small Axe is also the title of a Bob Marley song from 1973 album Catch A Fire. It means that relatively marginal or small voices of dissent can successfully challenge more powerful voices.
John Boyega stars in Red, White and Blue, an episode that follows Leroy Logan, a real-life police officer who wanted to change the force after his father was killed by two police officers. Logan was appointed MBE in 2001 for his role in developing anti-racist policies. for the police, later retiring in 2013. Boyega is joined in the drama by Steve Toussaint (Prince of Persia) and newcomers Tyrone Huntley, Nathan Vidal and Jaden Oshenye.
Letitia Wright, Shaun Parkes and Malachi Kirby star in Mangrove, which marks 50 years since the events depicted in the film. Mangrove tells the true story of the Mangrove 9, the group of Black activists who clashed with London police during a protest march in 1970 and their highly publicised trial that followed. The trial was the first judicial acknowledgment of behaviour motivated by racial hatred within the Metropolitan Police.
Other episodes in the anthology include Alex Wheatle, Education and Lovers Rock. Lovers Rock, along with Mangrove, was selected as part of the Cannes Film Festival line-up in June, although the festival was later cancelled. Mangrove will open the London Film Festival this October, with the episode screening in cinemas across the UK. Mangrove, Lovers Rock and Red, White and Blue will open the New York Film Festival later this month.
The series is a co-production between BBC One and Amazon Studios and will air at a to-be-confirmed date on BBC One, with Amazon streaming the show in the US. For more on the London Film Festival, click here, or read on below for the trailer:
First look: John Boyega in BBC One’s Small Axe
5th August 2020
John Boyega is heading to BBC One in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe, and a new image gives us our first look at the Star Wars actor in the series.
Small Axe is anthology of hour-long stories conceived and written by McQueen with Alastair Siddons and Courttia Newland (Alex Wheatle is a writing consultant). The six films tell five stories, with the first told across two episodes, and are set within London’s West Indian community from the late 1960s to the early 80s.
The title Small Axe is derived from a Jamaican proverb that has resonance throughout the Caribbean, “if you are the big tree, we are the small axe”. Small Axe is also the title of a Bob Marley song from 1973 album Catch A Fire. It means that relatively marginal or small voices of dissent can successfully challenge more powerful voices.
Boyega will star in Red, White and Blue, an episode that follows Leroy Logan, a real-life police officer who wanted to change the force after his father was killed by two police officers. Logan was appointed MBE in 2001 for his role in developing anti-racist policies. for the police, later retiring in 2013.
Boyega is joined in the drama by Steve Toussaint (Prince of Persia) and newcomers Tyrone Huntley, Nathan Vidal and Jaden Oshenye.
Other episodes in the anthology include Alex Wheatle, Education, Mangrove and Lovers. The latter two were selected as part of the Cannes Film Festival line-up in June, although the festival was later cancelled. Cast members for the other episodes include Letitia Wright (Black Panther), Malachi Kirby (Curfew, Black Mirror, Roots), Shaun Parkes (Lost In Space, Hooten & The Lady), Rochenda Sandall (Line Of Duty, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch), Alex Jennings (A Very English Scandal, Victoria) and Jack Lowden (The Long Song, Mary Queen of Scots).
The series is a co-production between BBC One and Amazon Studios and is expected to air later this year.
Small Axe: John Boyega and Letitia Wright to star in Steve McQueen’s BBC One series
27th June 2020
John Boyega and Letitia Wright will star in Small Axe, Steve McQueen’s new series for BBC One.
The Oscar and Bafta-winning filmmaker’s new project is an an anthology of hour-long stories conceived and written by him with Alastair Siddons and Courttia Newland (Alex Wheatle is a writing consultant to the series). The six films tell five stories, with the first told across two episodes, and are set within London’s West Indian community from the late 1960s to the early 80s.
Produced by BBC One, Turbine Studios and Lammas Park, the series is executive produced by Tracey Scoffield and David Tanner for Turbine Studios and Steve McQueen for Lammas. Also joining the cast are Evening Standard Theatre Awards’ Outstanding Newcomer Malachi Kirby (Curfew, Black Mirror, Roots), Shaun Parkes (Lost In Space, Hooten & The Lady), Rochenda Sandall (Line Of Duty, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch), Alex Jennings (A Very English Scandal, Victoria) and Jack Lowden (The Long Song, Mary Queen of Scots).
The title Small Axe is derived from a Jamaican proverb that has resonance throughout the Caribbean, “if you are the big tree, we are the small axe”. Small Axe is also the title of a Bob Marley song from 1973 album Catch A Fire. It means that relatively marginal or small voices of dissent can successfully challenge more powerful voices.
Mike Elliot is producing for EMU Films with Turbine Studios and Anita Overland. Associate producers are Charlotte Andrews for Turbine Studios, Susan Dolan for Lammas Park and Helen Bart. The drama was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, and the executive producer for the BBC is Lucy Richer, Senior Commissioning Editor for Drama.
McQueen says: “I felt these stories needed to be shared. I wanted to re-live, re-evaluate and investigate the journeys that my parents and the first generation of West Indians went on to deliver me here today calling myself a Black British person. What’s important about our stories is that they are local but at the same time global. I think audiences will identify with the trials, tribulations and joy of our characters as well as reflecting on the present environment in which we find ourselves. The dynamic nature of the series allows us to confront injustice in the face of adversity hence the proverb Small Axe.”
Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, says: “It is an honour to have Steve McQueen, along with this stellar cast, tell these important and inspiring stories on BBC One. Small Axe will air on BBC One next year, and this powerful drama is not to be missed.”
Tracey Scoffield, Turbine Studios Executive Producer, says: “We’ve been working with Steve McQueen and the BBC for over five years developing this project and the privilege continues now we are in production, putting together the best cast and crew to do justice to these incredible stories and the real people behind them.”
Filming is now underway.