Channel 4 teams with Ben Wheatley, Paul Dacre for landmark series

Ben Wheatley scores first TV project with Channel 4

Film director Ben Wheatley (High-Rise; Happy New Year, Colin Burstead) has partnered with The Forge on a six-part zombie comedy drama that will be his first foray into TV.

The 6 x 60-minute Generation Z finds a group of teenagers battling against a wave of pensioners who have transformed into zombies following a toxic spill near their retirement home.

Generation Z is produced by The Forge and was commissioned by the channel’s head of drama Caroline Hollick and commissioning editor Lee Mason.

The series will go into production in 2020 and will be exec produced by Wheatley, Mark Pybus and George Faber. It is written and directed by Wheatley.

All3Media International will handle global sales.

Wheatley said: “Generation Z is my first original created TV project and I couldn’t think of better partners.”

Channel 4’s Hollick added: “Ben is a unique creative force, and I’m delighted that he’s bringing this hilarious, frightening and political horror series to Channel 4. I can’t wait to see him transform the zombie genre into something both outrageous and cannily perceptive.”

George Faber, exec producer, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the hugely talented Ben Wheatley on his epic comic horror series and very much look forward to discovering how Generation Z will fight the plague of Baby Boomer zombies who are after their young flesh.”

Paul Dacre

Channel 4 gets up close with Daily Mail’s Dacre 

Channel 4 has commissioned a landmark doc series on former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre.

The 3 x 60-minute series from Rogan Productions will see the journalist discuss his 26 years as editor, and how he shaped the outlet into the voice of Middle England.

Dacre is to highlight some of the paper’s biggest splashes, including the death of Princess Diana, murder of Stephen Lawrence and the Brexit vote.

Last year, Dacre appeared in On The Corner and Rogan Productions’ BBC One doc series Stephen: The Murder That Changed A Nation, which also featured interviews with the likes of former Prime Minister Theresa May.

Channel 4’s head of factual Danny Horan commissioned the series.

James Rogan, director on the series, said: “After filming with Paul Dacre for Stephen: The Murder That Changed A Nation in 2018, I felt there was a gripping behind-the-headlines story to be told, that would uncover his journey towards becoming the most influential British journalist of our time.

“In his first ever extended TV interview, Paul’s story will be framed by the significant historic events that were reported, forming a fascinating insight into the world according to Paul Dacre.”

Channel 4’s Horan said: “The question of whether Paul Dacre and the Daily Mail have set or reflected the mood of the nation over the last quarter of a century is asked all too often. For the first time, we will ask Paul Dacre himself. This will be an iconic history series that will reveal how our most revered and reviled newspaper shaped Britain. Everything we thought we knew is about to be turned on its head.”