Michael Socha and Michaela Coel star in E4's Aliens (w/t)

2 September 2015

 

Aliens have been among us since they crash-landed in the UK 40 years ago. Though they look and behave exactly like us, they are forced to live a segregated life, behind a huge wall in a ghetto called Troy. It’s a hedonistic and ramshackle town, unpoliced and filled with gangs who make a living smuggling alien hair out of Troy to be smoked as a drug by humans.

Lewis (Michael Socha) is a border guard who mans the checkpoint between Troy and the human side of the wall. In common with most humans, he regards the aliens who pass through the checkpoint to do menial jobs on the human side of town as second class citizens. But when he discovers that he is the world’s first half-alien, he finds himself drawn into a world of divided loyalties and a search for his own identity.

Michael Socha (This is England, Being Human) stars as the mild-mannered Lewis whose world is turned upside down when he discovers the criminal underbelly of Troy as he searches for answers to who he really is.

Michaela Coel (Top Boy, Chewing Gum) is Lilyhot, an enigmatic and alluring alien who is deeply embroiled in one of Troy’s criminal gangs. When Lewis crosses her path, her fate and his become inextricably entwined.

Joining them are Michael Smiley (Black Mirror, Kill List), Ashley Walters (Top Boy, Hustle), Holli Dempsey (Derek, New Worlds) and Trystan Gravelle (Mr Selfridge, Anonymous).

Wry, violent, funny and visually arresting, Aliens (w/t) (6 x 60’) is written by Fintan Ryan (Never Better, In the Flesh) and produced by Clerkenwell Films (Misfits, Scrotal Recall, Not Safe For Work). Episodes 1-3 will be directed by Jonathan van Tulleken (Top Boy, Misfits) and Lawrence Gough (Atlantis, Misfits) will direct episodes 4-6.

Filming began earlier this week and the show will TX on E4 in early 2016.

Michael Socha says: “I’ve never played anyone like Lewis before - it’s going to be an exciting challenge for me. E4 is the home of some of the coolest dramas in the UK and I can’t wait to take my first steps into the world of Troy.”

Michaela Coel says: “I’ve been a big fan of Fintan Ryan since Never Better and was directed by J Van Tulleken in my first ever television role. They, amongst many other things, make this one of the most exciting projects I’ve ever been a part of and I can’t wait to get started.”

Commissioned by Piers Wenger, Head of Drama for Channel 4, and Roberto Troni, Commissioner at Channel 4, Aliens is made by Clerkenwell Films. Charlie Leech is Producer and Executive Producers for Clerkenwell Films are Petra Fried, Matt Jarvis and Murray Ferguson.