Yep, Danny Boyle is taking the deep dive into television. In case you forgot, last summer brought word that the “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Trainspotting” filmmaker was taking his talents to the small screen for the cop comedy/drama “Babylon,” and now as we enter the New Year, the first look at the cast has arrived.
Brit Marling and James Nesbitt are the bigger names in the new show, and they lead an extensive ensemble that includes Paterson Joseph, Bertie Carvel, Ella Smith, Martin Trenaman, Jim Howick, Cavan Clerkin, Jill Halfpenny, Adam Deacon, Jonny Sweet, Nick Blood, Stuart Martin, Andrew Brooke and Daniel Kaluuya. Phew! And that team will tackle a promising premise from “Peep Show” writers Sam Bains and Jesse Armstrong, that will follow an American new-media expert who’s hired to transform the PR of the London police department.
Between “Brooklyn Nine Nine” and this, are we looking at the renaissance of cop comedies? We’ll soon see. Channel 4 will air the pilot episode in the U.K. early this year, with a full season to shoot this fall. No details yet on when or how it will land stateside but hopefully someone snaps it up. [Mirror]