Benedict Cumberbatch to film TV drama Melrose
Benedict Cumberbatch will star in TV drama Melrose, which will film on location in London, the south of France and New York.
By Nick Goundry 28 Feb 2017
Benedict Cumberbatch will star in TV drama Melrose, which will film on location in London, the south of France and New York.
Cumberbatch is also an executive producer on the five-part series through his company SunnyMarch.
The drama is for Sky Atlantic and Showtime Networks and is based on the Patrick Melrose series of novels by Edward St. Aubyn, telling the story of an aristocrat’s journey from a difficult childhood through the trauma of adult substance abuse to an eventual recovery.
“Bravery and distinction are core to all original drama on Sky Atlantic,” said Anne Mensah, head of drama for Sky.
“Through anti-hero Patrick Melrose, we will be offering viewers a compelling window into a world of privilege, cruelty and greed – crucially both a disturbing and a funny tale. We are so excited to welcome this amazing story and a huge thank you to Benedict, David (Nicholls, the series writer) and the whole team.”
SunnyMarch is also in pre-production on a feature adaptation of Ian McEwan’s The Child In Time, which Cumberbatch is also set to star in and executive produce. Location filming is also scheduled to take place in London.
London is the UK’s main production hub and attracts TV shoots from around the world because of its experienced crew base and special tax credit for high-end television.
Location filming has surged in France since the country’s Tax Rebate for International Production (TRIP) was increased to 30% at the beginning of last year.
The change drove an increase in foreign production spending from €57m to €152m in 12 months, spearheaded by Christopher Nolan’s Second World War feature Dunkirk, which opens this summer.
New York remains one of America’s top production hubs, partly because of a generous filming incentive. Earlier this month New York City authorities announced plans to redevelop part of Brooklyn into a new film and TV production facility.
Main page image: Getty Images/Theo Wargo. This page: Sky Atlantic.
The drama is for Sky Atlantic and Showtime Networks and is based on the Patrick Melrose series of novels by Edward St. Aubyn, telling the story of an aristocrat’s journey from a difficult childhood through the trauma of adult substance abuse to an eventual recovery.
“Bravery and distinction are core to all original drama on Sky Atlantic,” said Anne Mensah, head of drama for Sky.
“Through anti-hero Patrick Melrose, we will be offering viewers a compelling window into a world of privilege, cruelty and greed – crucially both a disturbing and a funny tale. We are so excited to welcome this amazing story and a huge thank you to Benedict, David (Nicholls, the series writer) and the whole team.”
SunnyMarch is also in pre-production on a feature adaptation of Ian McEwan’s The Child In Time, which Cumberbatch is also set to star in and executive produce. Location filming is also scheduled to take place in London.
London is the UK’s main production hub and attracts TV shoots from around the world because of its experienced crew base and special tax credit for high-end television.
Location filming has surged in France since the country’s Tax Rebate for International Production (TRIP) was increased to 30% at the beginning of last year.
The change drove an increase in foreign production spending from €57m to €152m in 12 months, spearheaded by Christopher Nolan’s Second World War feature Dunkirk, which opens this summer.
New York remains one of America’s top production hubs, partly because of a generous filming incentive. Earlier this month New York City authorities announced plans to redevelop part of Brooklyn into a new film and TV production facility.
Main page image: Getty Images/Theo Wargo. This page: Sky Atlantic.
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