An overview of new historical drama, New Worlds

A major new historical drama for Channel 4, the ensemble cast of New Worlds includes Jamie Dornan (Fifty Shades of Grey, The Fall), Freya Mavor (Sunshine on Leith, Skins), Alice Englert (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Beautiful Creatures) and Joe Dempsie (Southcliffe, Game of Thrones) as young idealists during the Restoration period.

Set in the turbulent 1680s, the drama takes place on both sides of the Atlantic, as these two young men and two young women commit their lives to a fairer future with blood, passion and urgency. New Worlds is a gripping story of love and loss and the human price paid for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Written and created by Peter Flannery (Our Friends In The North) and Martine Brant and produced by Company Pictures (Skins, Shameless, Elizabeth 1, The Devil’s Whore, The Shadow Line) for Channel 4, New Worlds follows on from their 2008 BAFTA-nominated series The Devil’s Whore.

In England, torture, show trials and summary executions are rife as Charles II (Jeremy Northam) has betrayed his promise of tolerance and reverted to tyranny. At Fanshawe House, we rejoin Angelica (Eve Best, Nurse Jackie) from The Devil’s Whore, now Countess of Seacourt, striving to protect her daughter Beth (Freya Mavor) from a country yet again on the brink of chaos. But when Abe (Jamie Dornan) – outlaw and idealist – breaks into Beth’s sheltered world he jolts her into consciousness and asks her if she can standby as the liberties won with her father’s Civil War blood are destroyed? Meanwhile in New England the colonists struggle to throw off the distant but steely control of the English Crown and Hope (Alice Englert) and Ned (Joe Dempsie) find themselves on the brutal frontline.

Channel 4 Head of Drama, Piers Wenger says: “New Worlds is a compelling four part drama capturing the political struggles of the period following the English Civil War both at home and overseas. The combination of Peter and Martine’s scripts and Charles Martin’s direction has attracted a diverse and glittering cast and we’re greatly looking forward to seeing their work brought to the screen”

Filming took place in the UK and Romania with director Charles Martin (Skins, Run) at the helm; transmission on Channel 4 will be in April 2014. The 4 x 60’ original drama will be produced by Johann Knobel (Shameless, The Shadow Line, Secret State) and executive produced by Martine Brant, Peter Flannery, Marcel Golding and John Yorke.  A Company Pictures/Power co-production for Channel 4, New Worlds was commissioned by Roberto Troni and Beth Willis.