How long before they find you? Who’s pulling the strings? How will we all survive? OnThursday, April 25 at 10 p.m. ET, Space makes a deal with the devil for the series premiere of British conspiracy thriller, UTOPIA. The six-part series follows a small group of previously unconnected people who find themselves in possession of The Utopia Experiments, a legendary graphic novel shrouded in mystery. Suddenly and brutally, their lives begin to implode when they are relentlessly targeted by a murderous organization known as ‘The Network,’ who is in pursuit of the manuscript. The terrified group are left with only one option if they want to survive – they have to run. Already commissioned for a second season by U.K.’s Channel 4, UTOPIAfeatures a brilliant ensemble cast including Paul Higgins (In the Loop), Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (MISFITS), and Alexandra Roach (The Iron Lady).
In Episode 1 of UTOPIA, five strangers from an online comic book forum agree to meet after gaining possession of The Utopia Experiments. While three of the forum members – Ian (Stewart-Jarrett), Becky (Roach), and Wilson (Adeel Akhtar, The Dictator) meet at a pub, another is confronted and attacked by two Network henchmen. The only witness to the attack is 11-year-old Grant (Oliver Woolford,Blackout), the fifth forum member, and when he flees with the manuscript, the henchmen chase after him.
Ian and Becky soon find out they’ve been set-up for crimes they haven’t committed, while Wilson’s hacking skills attract the attention of Network henchmen henchmen Arby (Neil Maskell, KILL LIST) and Lee (Paul Ready, Private Peaceful). As the trio’s lives begin to fracture, the world of civil servant Michael Dugdale (Higgins) is also torn apart as he is blackmailed by The Network. Just as things are looking increasingly desperate for Ian, Becky and Wilson, they come face to face with an enigmatic stranger who claims to offer them a way out.
UTOPIA’s ensemble cast also includes James Fox (Sherlock Holmes) as Assistant, Geraldine James (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) as Milner, Simon McBurney (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) as Donaldson, Fiona O’ Shaughnessy (Outcast) as Jessica Hyde, and Michael Smiley (KILL LIST) as Detective Reynolds.
UTOPIA is written by Dennis Kelly (Matilda) and directed by Marc Munden (The Mark of Cain). The series was produced by Kudos Film & TV for Channel 4. The producer is Rebekah Wray-Rogers (THIS IS ENGLAND ‘88), and executive producers are Karen Wilson (HUSTLE), Jane Featherstone (THE HOUR), and Dennis Kelly (PULLING).
