‘Top Boy,’ ‘MobLand’ Creator Ronan Bennett Sets Near-Future Thriller Series ‘Army of Shadows’ at Channel 4
Ronan Bennett is heading back to U.K. network Channel 4 for the first time since his breakout hit “Top Boy.”
The BAFTA-winning writer and showrunner, most recently known for creating hit TV shows “The Day of the Jackal” and “MobLand,” has penned “Army of Shadows,” a six-part drama series being produced by StudioCanal alongside Two Cities Television (“Patrick Melrose”).
Inspired by Jean Pierre Melville’s 1969 film and Joseph Kessel’s book of the same name, both of which dramatized the emergence of the French Resistance to the Nazi occupation of France during WWII, “Army of Shadows” uses those underlying works to tell the story of how resistance takes shape in a near-future authoritarian Britain. Under de facto American occupation, a former British army officer builds a covert resistance cell from scratch — navigating betrayal, moral compromise and the tension between patience and action — as young recruits fight to reclaim their country and their futures.
Developed and produced with the support of the Melville family, and the Kessel estate (which is controlled by the Irish Red Cross), the series will chronicle the early days of the British Resistance. From first kills and internal betrayals to propaganda campaigns, internment camps, and a climactic political assassination, this is a story about how freedom is taken and how it can be won back.
“I’m thrilled to be working with the teams at Channel 4, StudioCanal, Two Cities and Canal+ on such great source material, and I’m delighted to have such strong support from the Melville family,” said Bennett. “Democracy is once again in clear and present danger. Resistance to fascism is — and must always be — a permanent struggle. This is a story about commitment, resistance and defiance in the coming age.”
Added Gemma Boswell, Channel 4’s commissioning editor for drama: “’Army of Shadows’ is a gripping and provocative drama that speaks directly to our times. Ronan Bennett’s vision is bold and uncompromising, reimagining a classic story with thrilling and emotional depth.”
“Army of Shadows” is a Channel 4 and Canal+ commission with StudioCanal handling international sales and worldwide distribution. StudioCanal developed the series from inception with Two Cities Television.
“Army of Shadows represents an historic moment in the evolution of our TV business at StudioCanal. It is not only the inaugural series of our internal TV producing arm, but also the adaptation of a treasured film from our iconic library; one that Ron Halpern and Joe Naftalin have been passionately developing for many years,” said M-K Kennedy, managing director of StudioCanal Television. “We hope it will spark a provocative conversation with audiences around the world.”
Added Two Cities’ joint CEO (with Michael Jackson) and creative director Stephen Wright: “Michael and I were inspired to produce a TV version of the ‘Army of Shadows’ original masterpiece novel and film for the 21st century, where the themes and political tensions are as fascinating as ever but will be delivered through a new lens. We’re thrilled to be working with Ronan Bennett as writer and creator of this show, whose work we’ve long admired and with whom we look forward to working with closely.”
Laurent Grousset, Melville’s nephew and president of the Jean-Pierre Melville Foundation described Bennett’s new approach to his uncle’s work as “outstanding and brings a complete and surprising new life to the original, without losing its quality.”
Canal+ commissioned the series for its global footprint in over 50 countries across France, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Halpern, Naftalin and Paul Gilbert of StudioCanal are executive producing the series with Wright and Jackson of Two Cities Television. Bennett is executive producer.
The BAFTA-winning writer and showrunner, most recently known for creating hit TV shows “The Day of the Jackal” and “MobLand,” has penned “Army of Shadows,” a six-part drama series being produced by StudioCanal alongside Two Cities Television (“Patrick Melrose”).
Inspired by Jean Pierre Melville’s 1969 film and Joseph Kessel’s book of the same name, both of which dramatized the emergence of the French Resistance to the Nazi occupation of France during WWII, “Army of Shadows” uses those underlying works to tell the story of how resistance takes shape in a near-future authoritarian Britain. Under de facto American occupation, a former British army officer builds a covert resistance cell from scratch — navigating betrayal, moral compromise and the tension between patience and action — as young recruits fight to reclaim their country and their futures.
Developed and produced with the support of the Melville family, and the Kessel estate (which is controlled by the Irish Red Cross), the series will chronicle the early days of the British Resistance. From first kills and internal betrayals to propaganda campaigns, internment camps, and a climactic political assassination, this is a story about how freedom is taken and how it can be won back.
“I’m thrilled to be working with the teams at Channel 4, StudioCanal, Two Cities and Canal+ on such great source material, and I’m delighted to have such strong support from the Melville family,” said Bennett. “Democracy is once again in clear and present danger. Resistance to fascism is — and must always be — a permanent struggle. This is a story about commitment, resistance and defiance in the coming age.”
Added Gemma Boswell, Channel 4’s commissioning editor for drama: “’Army of Shadows’ is a gripping and provocative drama that speaks directly to our times. Ronan Bennett’s vision is bold and uncompromising, reimagining a classic story with thrilling and emotional depth.”
“Army of Shadows” is a Channel 4 and Canal+ commission with StudioCanal handling international sales and worldwide distribution. StudioCanal developed the series from inception with Two Cities Television.
“Army of Shadows represents an historic moment in the evolution of our TV business at StudioCanal. It is not only the inaugural series of our internal TV producing arm, but also the adaptation of a treasured film from our iconic library; one that Ron Halpern and Joe Naftalin have been passionately developing for many years,” said M-K Kennedy, managing director of StudioCanal Television. “We hope it will spark a provocative conversation with audiences around the world.”
Added Two Cities’ joint CEO (with Michael Jackson) and creative director Stephen Wright: “Michael and I were inspired to produce a TV version of the ‘Army of Shadows’ original masterpiece novel and film for the 21st century, where the themes and political tensions are as fascinating as ever but will be delivered through a new lens. We’re thrilled to be working with Ronan Bennett as writer and creator of this show, whose work we’ve long admired and with whom we look forward to working with closely.”
Laurent Grousset, Melville’s nephew and president of the Jean-Pierre Melville Foundation described Bennett’s new approach to his uncle’s work as “outstanding and brings a complete and surprising new life to the original, without losing its quality.”
Canal+ commissioned the series for its global footprint in over 50 countries across France, Europe, Africa and Asia.
Halpern, Naftalin and Paul Gilbert of StudioCanal are executive producing the series with Wright and Jackson of Two Cities Television. Bennett is executive producer.