Paramount+ UK orders ‘Curfew’, Federation to sell globally

Sarah Parish (Source Paramount, Jonathan Wrather)

Paramount+ is expanding its UK drama slate with a new commission for Britannia prodco Vertigo Films that has Federation Studios attached to distribute globally.

Curfew (working title) is a six-parter that is being produced with Evolutionary Films (I Am Vengeance: Retaliation) that is set in a society where all men live under ‘The Women’s Safety Act’, which places them under a strict curfew between 19:00-07:00.

When a woman’s body is discovered, brutally murdered during curfew hours, a veteran police officer believes that a man is responsible.

However, proving her theory could lead to the dismantling of the curfew legislation, with people in high places doing all they can do to prove the initiative is a success.

Sarah Parish (Stay Close), Mitchell Robertson, Alexandra Burke and Mandip Gill are among cast, with Joasia Goldyn (Britannia) directing.

Lydia Yeoman (The Haze) is lead writer, alongside Jess Green (EastEnders) and Sumerah Srivastav (Manifest). Filming has begun in London.

The show will be available exclusively on Paramount+ in the UK, whilst Federation will handle global sales. The model reflects the shifting strategies being used by streamers, with Paramount – like other US-based streamers – curtailing international spending on originals.

Paramount has also said it will continue to order projects for its broadcast networks, including Channel 5 in the UK.

Curfew joins a roster of UK scripted originals for Paramount+ that include The Flatshare, Sexy Beast, A Gentleman In Moscow, Insomnia and Stags. It was was commissioned by Sebastian Cardwell, deputy chief content officer for the UK, and Paul Testar for Paramount+.