Up Next 2023: Sky shares first look at four highly anticipated Sky Original dramas for 2023

Monday 6 February 2023

This week, Sky has released a series of first look trailers and imagery for some of its unmissable Sky Original dramas coming in 2023.

Starting with the raucous and exuberant drama, A Town Called Malice, written and created by Nick Love. If Dallas made love to Pulp Fiction to the sounds of Duran Duran, they’d give birth to this intoxicating cocktail of crime thriller, family saga and musical love letter to the ’80s. The series follows a family of South London gangsters – the Lords - who realise that fleeing to the Costa Del Sol might, in fact, present a golden opportunity to reinvent themselves. However, in this series full of romance, obsession, violence, deceit, and swagger, the Lords spend as much time battling each other as they do their opponents. Starring Jack Rowan, Jason Flemyng, Martha Plimpton and Tahirah Sharif, the series premieres on Sky Max and NOW on 16th March 2023.

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The Lovers, written by award winning playwright David Ireland and directed by BAFTA winning Justin Martin. The dramedy will follow the journey of the love-struck, oddly paired duo, Seamus and Janet, played by Johnny Flynn and Roisin Gallagher. When Seamus unexpectedly drops into Janet’s world they instantly clash – and yet also find themselves inextricably drawn to each other… Set in Belfast, this is a sexy, funny, fight-y love story about two people who appear to be utterly wrong for each other – yet may just be utterly right. The series premieres on Sky Atlantic and NOW in 2023.

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The bold new, eight-part limited series Then You Run, based on Zoran Drvenkar’s thriller novel, You, is also coming. Rising star talent Leah McNamara, Vivian Oparah, Yasmin Monet Prince and Isidora Fairhurst, take on the roles of a close-knit group of rebellious London teenagers who are on a getaway in Rotterdam - but after the estranged father of Tara (McNamara) is discovered dead, they find themselves on the run across Europe with three kilos of heroin and a host of deadly criminals snapping at their heels. The series premieres on Sky Max and NOW in 2023.

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As part of this week’s announcements, Sky has also released an exclusive first look at season two of the critically acclaimed series, The Lazarus Project. Starring Paapa Essiedu, Charly Clive, Rudi Dharmalingam, Anjli Mohindra and Caroline Quentin, the action-packed series, written by BAFTA nominated Joe Barton and Howard Overman, will return later this year to Sky Max and NOW.

Speaking to the newly released first looks, Meghan Lyvers, Director of Original Drama, UK and Ireland at Sky Studios, comments: “This year we are showcasing some of the most distinct and provocative original storytelling, featuring a compelling line-up of UK and international talent both in front of and behind the camera. From propulsive action series to nostalgic, crime-soaked thrillers, to incredible prestigious dramas inspired by real events, there is truly something for everyone on Sky in 2023.”

The announcements made today join a raft of original and exclusive TV shows and films coming to Sky in 2023, offering customers more value and choice than ever before. Check out what’s coming Up Next on Sky screens in 2023 here.

For more information please contact:

Hannah Forde

Hannah.forde@sky.uk

Georgina Anthony

Georgina.anthony@sky.uk

Jessie Elliott

Jessie.elliott@sky.uk

Further details on synopsis and first looks released today below.

A Town Called Malice (8x60), Sky Max and NOW, 16th March 2023

This intoxicating cocktail of crime thriller and family saga in the early ’80s follows the Lords - a family of South London gangsters who’ve fallen to the bottom of the criminal food chain – and they’re not happy about it. When they flee to the Costa del Sol in Spain following a gangland battle, the Lords realise this is a golden opportunity to re-invent themselves and re-capture their former glory. However, they spend as much time battling each other as they do their opponents in this exuberant, neon-soaked 80’s crime thriller - filled with romance, obsession, violence, deceit, and swagger.

The Lord family is headed up by Jason Flemyng (Save Me, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) as Albert Lord, Jack Rowan (Born to Kill) as Gene Lord, Tahirah Sharif (The Haunting of Bly Manor) joins as Cindy Carter, Gene’s girlfriend, and Martha Plimpton (Mass, The Good Wife) as Mint Ma, who will be joined by wider family members Dougray Scott (Ever After, Mission: Impossible 2) as Uncle Tony, Lex Shrapnel (Captain America) as Leonard Lord, Daniel Sharman (Fear the Walking Dead, Medici) as Kelly Lord, George Jaques (The Third Day: Autumn) as Anthony Lord and Eliza Butterworth (The Last Kingdom) as Carly Lord.

Watch the first look trailer here.

Download images from SEAC here.

The Lovers (6x30), Sky Atlantic and NOW, 2023

The series follows Janet (Roisin Gallagher), a foul-mouthed, hilarious, Belfast supermarket worker who couldn’t give a shit about anything much at all, including her life, and Seamus (Johnny Flynn) a handsome, self-centred, political broadcaster with what looks to be a perfect London life and a celebrity girlfriend.

So when Seamus unexpectedly drops into Janet’s world (literally over the wall and into her backyard) they instantly clash – and yet also find themselves inextricably drawn to each other…

Set in Belfast, this is a sexy, funny, fight-y love story about two people who appear to be utterly wrong for each other – yet may just be utterly right.

The series also stars Conleth Hill (Game of Thrones, Holding) as Janet’s supermarket boss, Philip and Alice Eve (Star Trek Into Darkness, She’s Out of My League) as Frankie, Seamus’ girlfriend.

Watch the first look trailer here.

Then You Run (8x60), Sky Max and NOW, 2023

The eight-part drama will see Leah McNamara (Normal People, Danny Boy), Vivian Oparah (I May Destroy You), Yasmin Monet Prince (Hanna, Unsaid Stories) and newcomer Isidora Fairhurst take on the roles of four friends whose dreams of the perfect summer holiday spiral into a dark and perilous adventure after they inadvertently cross paths with some of the most dangerous people in Europe.

Created for television and written by Ben Chanan (Cyberbully, The Capture), the series follows a close-knit group of rebellious London teenagers on a getaway in Rotterdam - but after the estranged father of Tara (Leah McNamara) is discovered dead, they find themselves on the run across Europe with three kilos of heroin and a host of deadly criminals snapping at their heels. Leading the hunt against Tara and her childhood friends – reckless Stink (Vivian Oparah), sharp Ruth (Yasmin Monet Prince) and loyal Nessi (Isidora Fairhurst) – is Tara’s uncle Reagan (Richard Coyle), a notorious gangster haunted by his past who will stop at nothing to track down his missing cache of drugs. But Reagan isn’t the only person they should fear – because all the while a terrifying and mythical serial killer known only as ‘The Traveller’ draws closer, on a collision course with them all…

The series will also see Cillian O’Sullivan (Vikings, The Blacklist) cast as Orin, Francis Magee (White Lines, Britannia) as Turi, Darren Cahill (Brassic, Vikings) as Darian, Famke Janssen (X-Men, Taken) as Dagmar and Christian Rubeck (What Happened to Monday) as The Traveller.

Watch the first look trailer here.

The Lazarus Project Series 2 (8x60), Sky Max and NOW, 2023

The Lazarus Project is back, and the fight to secure the future has never been more intense. When the world locks into a time loop in which the world ends every three weeks, the Lazarus team must race against time to find a solution before humanity is wiped out forever. Among their number is resolute Lazarus agent, George (Paapa Essiedu), who’s been left in disgrace after betraying the organisation in the name of love. George is determined to redeem himself and win back the trust of his friends, colleagues, and the love of his life. But when he discovers that the cause he’s fighting is more sinister than it appears, George begins to suspect that the only person he can really trust is himself.

The epic, action packed series sees Paapa Essiedu, Anjli Mohindra, Charly Clive, Vinette Robinson, Rudi Dharmalingam, Caroline Quentin and Tom Burke reprise their roles. The series also sees Colin Salmon (Resident Evil, Limitless), Royce Pierreson (The Irregulars, The Witcher), Safia Oakley-Green (Sherwood), Lorne MacFadyen (Vigil), Zoe Telford (Genius), Sam Troughton and James Atherton (Hollyoaks) joining the cast.

Download images from SEAC here.