Disney+ announces three new UK originals

Disney+ UK has announced three new UK produced dramas from Moonriver TV and Seven Stories, Character 7 and Dancing Ledge.

The new orders were announced following panel sessions at Edinburgh TV Festival with Liam Keelan, Vice President of Original Content, Johanna Devereaux, Director of Scripted Content and Sean Doyle, Director of Unscripted Content for The Walt Disney Company EMEA.

The commissions are part of the company’s plan to source, develop and produce content with European production companies, with the ambition to create 50 productions in Europe by 2024.

Nautilus, produced jointly by Moonriver TV and Seven Stories, is based on the Jules Verne’s classic novel “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.” The epic ten-part live-action adventure series reveals the origin story of Verne’s most iconic character, Captain Nemo, and his legendary submarine, The Nautilus.

Developed and co-produced by Moonriver TV’s Xavier Marchand and Seven Stories’ Anand Tucker, Nautilus is written and executive produced by James Dormer (Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands) and is executive produced by Johanna Devereaux for Disney.

Filming is set to take place early 2022.

Johanna Devereaux, Director of Scripted Original Content, says “Jules Verne’s story is a beloved classic all around the world. It’s a huge privilege to bring the Nautilus and her crew to life again in such a bold, exciting way, with a diverse team of creative talent and on-screen characters. The series will be breath-taking, action-packed, and a huge amount of fun.”

James Dormer, Writer and Executive Producer, says “It’s a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of the amazing team that is coming together to tell this rip-roaring adventure and to do so with Disney+. I fell in love with the idea of being able to tell the story of Nemo and The Nautilus the moment that Xav and Anand brought it to me; if anything it’s more relevant now than it was when Verne first conceived of it a hundred and fifty years ago.”

Xavier Marchand and Anand Tucker, Producers, added “Jules Verne’s imagination has taken millions of readers on magical, mysterious and breath-taking journeys in his wonderful novels, mixing rip-roaring action with awe-inspiring natural wonders, and a prophetic understanding of science. Verne’s characters are larger than life mavericks, none more than the iconic antihero and forward-looking genius Captain Nemo. With Disney+, we are so excited to introduce a whole new generation to the incredible worlds of this greatest of storytellers, following Nemo and his crew on thrilling adventures beneath the waves.”

Culprits – Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Candyman; Misfits) will take the lead in Star Original Culprits, a “dark and funny heist series” from executive producer Stephen Garrett (The Undoing; The Night Manager) and filmmaker J Blakeson (I Care A Lot, The Disappearance of Alice Creed).

Culprits follows what happens after a heist, when the crew have gone their separate ways, but are being targeted by a killer one-by-one.

J Blakeson said, “I’m delighted that Nathan will be playing the lead in the show. He is such a talented actor who has done consistently brilliant work across film and TV. I’m excited to be working with him.”

Culprits is executive produced by Stephen Garrett, created and directed by J Blakeson and produced by Morenike Williams (Killing Eve). Culprits is a Character 7 production.

Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel; Insurgent) stars in Star Original and romantic comedy action thriller, Wedding Season. This genre-busting series about two people who shouldn’t be together, but who can’t stay away from one another, begins production later this month and will be shooting in Scotland, Manchester, London and Las Vegas.

Salazar stars as Katie, a picture-perfect bride who we meet on her wedding day surrounded by the dead bodies of her new husband and every member of his family. The police think her lover Stefan did it. Stefan thinks Katie did it. Katie thinks her ex-husband did it. And no one knows for sure what the truth is…

Executive Producer Chris Carey commented: “Katie is an incredibly bold, funny, charismatic and memorable character, one that requires an actor who possesses these qualities in extravagant abundance.  We are therefore thrilled to have Rosa Salazar in the role to bring Katie to life – she is an incredible actor with all the talent and energy to embody Oli’s fantastic creation. We can’t wait to see Rosa lead the Wedding Season cast as we bring on the mayhem!”

Writer and Executive Producer Oliver Lyttelton added: “I’ve been a fan of Rosa’s for a long time now – she’s one of the most exciting and unpredictable actors in the world, and I couldn’t be more excited that she’s our Katie.” 

Wedding Season is an eight-episode series, produced by Dancing Ledge Productions (The Salisbury Poisonings, New Pope) with Chris Carey (Les Miserables, Apple Tree Yard), Laurence Bowen (The Eichmann Show, Delhi Crime) and Toby Bruce (The Salisbury Poisonings), serving as Executive Producers. Wedding Season is produced in association with Jax Media (Russian Doll) with Lilly Burns (Russian Doll, Search Party), and Tony Hernandez also taking Executive Producer responsibilities. The series is penned by up-and-coming screenwriting talent Oliver Lyttelton (Cheaters) also an executive producer and will be directed by George Kane (Timewasters, Flack, Crashing).