Olivia Colman and Susan Sarandon have joined the cast of Army of Shadows. Channel 4’s six-part thriller already stars Paddy Considine, America Ferrera, Alex Hassell and Kit Harington.
The new casting also adds Leila Farzad, Luther Ford, Amara Okereke, Patrick O’Kane, Anjli Mohindra, Ed Ashley and Zoë Telford. The characters played by the latest arrivals have not been revealed, so it is too early to say which side of the conflict they will join.
Britain looks normal until someone looks closer
Army of Shadows takes place in a near-future Britain under authoritarian occupation. Streets and daily routines continue, but flags have changed, news is controlled and people have learned which subjects are dangerous to mention.
A former soldier known as Berry begins building a secret resistance network. He believes the group must wait until it is ready, even as pressure grows to act. The people drawn toward him include a soldier, a student, a radiographer and a journalist — ordinary citizens making choices that can permanently change their lives.
The state has greater reach and fewer limits. It is supported by a ruthless government minister and an American intelligence operative named Jessie. The series will follow the cost of organizing resistance, from internal distrust to the danger faced by people who decide they can no longer remain quiet.
A modern story built from a classic title
Ronan Bennett, whose recent television work includes The Day of the Jackal and MobLand, created and wrote the series. It is inspired by Joseph Kessel’s novel and Jean-Pierre Melville’s 1969 film, both centered on the French Resistance during World War II, but this is a new story rather than a direct remake.
Bennett said, “Democracy is once again in clear and present danger.” The modern setting lets the series ask what resistance would demand from people who have jobs, families and reasons to fear losing everything.
Lisa Gunning directs all six episodes. Two Cities Television and STUDIOCANAL are producing for Channel 4 and CANAL+. Filming has taken place in Manchester, Liverpool, London and Paris, giving the production several different versions of Britain and occupied Europe to work with.
Colman and Sarandon add two major names to an ensemble that was already unusually strong. Considine, Ferrera, Hassell and Harington were announced when filming began, but Channel 4 has not publicly connected each actor to Berry, Jessie or the other central roles.
There is no premiere date yet. STUDIOCANAL will handle international sales, while CANAL+ has commissioned the series across its global territories. The Army of Shadows series page has the confirmed cast, premise, creators and release status.
