Xbox Entertainment Studios & Channel 4 team up to produce drama show Humans
Xbox Entertainment and the UK's CHannel 4 have teamed up to produce a new drama show in 2015 called Humans, based off the Swedish original series Real Humans.
(Screenshot from the Swedish version, thanks Weekend Notes)
In a press release sent to VG247 today, Channel 4 confirmed that the 8 x 60 show will appear on its channel, and Xbox formats, and that it's being produced by Emmy award-winning production company Kudos, the same team behind The Hour, Utopia, Broadchurch and The Tunnel.
Written by Spooks scribes Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley, Humans is set in a parallel universe where society is helped by robotic servants called 'Synths,' that are similar to real humans. The show kicks off with a father of three buying a second hand Synth to ease his workload but finds that the device is hiding a deep secret with 'chilling consequences.'
In a statement, Channel 4 Head of Drama, Piers Wenger says, “In Humans, Sam and Jon have not only crafted an ingenious and imaginative thriller, but they’re also asking big, thought-provoking questions about how we live. I’m thrilled to be working once again with the team at Kudos and to be partnering with Xbox to bring this extraordinary and epic series to the screen. This is the first co-production commission to benefit from Channel 4’s increased investment in drama and reaffirms our commitment to ambitious, highly original drama series.”
President of Microsoft’s Xbox Entertainment Studios, Nancy Tellem added, “Humans not only questions personal relationships, but we loved how this sci-fi show toys with reality and our connection to technology.” She adds “This deal with Channel 4 and Kudos underscores Xbox Entertainment Studios' commitment to programming premium TV series with global partners and creating engaging interactive experiences – and sits alongside other original commissions including a Halo TV series executive produced by Steven Spielberg.”
Filming begins this summer, and the cast has yet to be announced. We'll have more as it comes.