– Set against the backdrop of a near-future space race, the show follows a man who is awakened with devastating news: his wife, an astronaut stationed on the UK’s first moonbase, has gone missing
Actors Andrea Riseborough (© Pip) and Ashley Walters (© Jamie Keith)
Production is under way in Belfast on First Woman, a six-part lunar thriller commissioned by ITV and spearheaded by its director of Drama, Polly Hill. The series stars Andrea Riseborough (Dragonfly, To Leslie, Good Boy, Goodbye June) and Ashley Walters (Adolescence, Top Boy, Missing You), and is created by Lydia Yeoman (Curfew) alongside George Oakes, based on an original idea by the latter. Direction is being handled by Emmy- and BAFTA-winning filmmaker Philip Martin, whose credits include successful shows such as Hawking, Bloodlines, Wallander, The Crown and The Agency.
Set against the backdrop of a near-future space race, First Woman follows Ben Reith (played by Walters), who is awakened in his London home with devastating news: his wife, Claire (Riseborough), an astronaut stationed on the UK’s first moonbase, has gone missing. Her disappearance rapidly escalates into a global media story, complicated by the geopolitical tensions surrounding a rival Chinese lunar base.
Claire, a biologist participating in a groundbreaking research mission, is also the first woman to set foot on the moon. As suspicion falls on both her fellow crew members and external actors, Ben is forced into a desperate search for the truth from hundreds of thousands of miles away, negotiating a web of personal and political uncertainty.
Filming is taking place in Belfast with backing from Northern Ireland Screen. The production is making extensive use of Studio Ulster, described as the largest and most advanced virtual production facility in the UK. The studio is being used to construct the series’ lunar environments, including the moonbase and surrounding landscapes, reflecting the growing reliance on virtual production technologies in contemporary television.
The scripts are penned by lead writer Lydia Yeoman, Oakes and Ben Schiffer, combining character-driven drama with a high-concept sci-fi premise.
Speaking about her involvement in this ambitious project, Riseborough said: “As a kid, I dreamed, perhaps more than anything, of space. Of emptiness and stars, and the vastness of all that those ‘grounded’ reflected on in verse. I can’t imagine a kinder, bolder, braver team than Philip and Ashley with whom to step into that realm. This will be endlessly compelling – I hope – for all who want to journey with us. I cannot wait.”
Meanwhile, Walters added: “What an honour to be a part of such a bold and propulsive drama with a team of people that I have dreamt of working with. I always want to be a part of projects that make us converse and think outside the box. This one does just that.”
Finally, Hill commented: “I wanted ITV to make this the moment I read it. The team that has come on board on and off screen is incredible, and is a testament to the wonderful and original scripts. Ashley Walters and Andrea Riseborough are such exciting casting, and Philip Martin is going to take the audience on such an incredible journey that I am thrilled to share with the audience.”
First Woman is being produced by Mammoth Screen (UK), alongside Alcon Television Group (USA) in association with ITV Studios (UK), and is being co-produced by ZDF (Germany). Financing is jointly provided by Alcon Television Group and ITV Studios. ITV Studios is also in charge of the show’s international distribution.
Julia Stannard (War and Peace, The Bombing of Pan Am 103, Trigger Point) is the series’ lead producer. Executive producers are Mammoth Screen’s founder and chief creative officer, Damien Timmer, alongside James Gandhi, Martin, Oakes and Yeoman. Mammoth Screen’s creative director, Rebecca Keane, has overseen the development of the series.
Alcon Television Group will co-produce the series with Broderick Johnson, Andrew Kosove, Scott Parish, Diego Piasek and Ben Roberts serving as executive producers.
Notably, Unit VFX will work in close partnership with Mammoth Screen and Alcon Television Group, delivering creative visual effects during production, while Poli Productions creative Rob Carlisle is collaborating with Martin and production designer Gillian Devenney to create the spectacular lunar vistas.
The release date is yet to be confirmed.
