A new reimagining of War of the Worlds starring award winning actor Gabriel Byrne alongside Downton Abbey star Elizabeth McGovern, kicks of tonight with a double bill on FOX TV, after filming in Bristol last year.
Based on the timeless sci-fi tale by H.G. Wells and set in present day Europe, War of the Worlds is written and created by the BAFTA award winner Howard Overman (Misfits, Crazyhead, Merlin). The eight part series, which filmed across the UK and France, used a number of Bristol locations during its three week shoot in the city in February/March last year, assisted by Bristol Film Office.
The shoot brought a ‘post-apocalyptic’ feel to Bristol’s city centre, which was dressed as London. The College Street and St George’s Street area was used for large-scale stunt sequences featuring a number of bodies strewn across the streets. A London Underground sign was placed on the exterior of City Hall. Filming also took place around Orchard Street, Queen’s Square, Armada House on Dove Street, the Create Centre on Spike Island and Stapleton Road in Easton.
It was a pleasure to support Urban Myth FIlms for the production of War of the Worlds in Bristol last year. The company had previously used Bristol locations in 2016 for the making of Crazyhead, so it was a fantastic endorsement to welcome them back for this major international co-production, which saw Bristol become the backdrop for drama featuring a world class cast and some exciting large-scale stunt scenes.
Natalie Moore, Bristol Film Office
Golden Globe winning and EMMY & Tony award nominated actor Gabriel Byrne (Hereditary, In Treatment) leads the international ensemble cast, which also includes Elizabeth McGovern (The Wife; Downton Abbey), Léa Drucker (Jusqu’à la garde; Le Bureau des légendes), Natasha Little (Press; Silent Witness), Daisy Edgar Jones (Cold Feet; Silent Witness), Stéphane Caillard (Genius, Marseille), Adel Bencherif (The Prophet) and Guillaume Gouix (The Returned).
When astronomers detect a transmission from another galaxy, it is definitive proof of intelligent extra-terrestrial life. The world’s population waits for further contact with bated breath. They do not have to wait long. Within days, civilisation is all but wiped out by an alien invasion; pockets of humanity are left in an eerily deserted world. As aliens hunt and kill those left alive, the survivors ask a burning question – who are these attackers and why are they hell-bent on our destruction? This is a story of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances – but they are more than just victims in a brutal war. For, as we will come to realise, the aliens’ savage attack on earth is not arbitrary: its seeds are being sown before our very eyes.
War of the Worlds is produced by Urban Myth Films and is a Création Originale for Canal+ and Fox Network Group. It is distributed by Studio Canal and AGC. It is executive produced by Howard Overman, Julian Murphy and Johnny Capps for Urban Myth Films. Director Gilles Coulier (De Dag, Cargo, The Natives) directs the first four episodes and Richard Clark (Innocent; Versailles) directs episodes five to eight.
War of the Worlds begins on FOX tonight (5 March) at 9pm, with the second episode following at 10pm. FOX in the UK is Sky Channel 124, Virgin Media Channel 157, Now TV, Talk Talk Channel 316 and BT TV Channel 349.