UKTV has commissioned a new drama series starring Oscar winner Anna Paquin as a public relations guru who’s an expert at her craft but a complete self-saboteur when it comes to her personal life.
Set for transmission in 2019, Flack will air in the UK on UKTV’s premium entertainment channel W and is a co-production with US network Pop. Paquin’s production company, CASM Films, will co-produce with Hat Trick Productions.
The series reflects on the brutal reality and complexities of modern life where problems can go viral in an instant.
With PR serving as the perfect backdrop to explore these complexities, Flack centres on an American PR executive living in London (Paquin) who must figure out how to make the best of bad situations and somehow manage to get out unscathed.
The six-part series was created by Oliver Lansley (Whites, Alice’s Adventures Underground) who will also executive produce. Lead director will be Peter Cattaneo, Oscar-nominated for The Full Monty and director of the BAFTA-winning BBC Two comedy Rev.
Paquin said: “Oliver Lansley has written six of the best scripts I’ve ever read. He walks that fine line between intense character driven drama and exceptionally intelligent humour.
“My character, Robyn, exists in a world where there are no moral absolutes and humour is used as a sharply executed defence mechanism to maintain the illusion of perpetual control.
“I am incredibly excited about tackling the creative complexities of Flack as an actress and for my company CASM’s collaboration with W and Pop.”
Richard Watsham, UKTV’s director of commissioning, commented: “It’s very exciting to announce Flack as the first original drama for W – it marks a new chapter in the ever-expanding story of UKTV’s move into original programming.
“The response from independent producers to our call out for distinctive drama has been incredible and as well as moving into production on Flack, we are now developing a growing number of original drama series for Alibi and Drama.”
