According to Variety, Marvel vet Karen Gillan and Downton Abbey alum Hugh Bonneville have signed for the leading roles in the upcoming limited drama titled Douglas is Cancelled, centering around a veteran news anchor whose life and career gets disrupted after becoming getting cancelled on social media. The project hails from Sherlock creator and Doctor Who writer Stephen Moffat.
“I just sat down and wrote this,” Moffat said. “Didn’t even tell anyone what I was doing. And now it’s all happening, thanks to the amazing Sue Vertue (renowned TV producer and in a rare moment of weakness, my wife). I can’t quite believe we’ve managed to get the mighty Hugh Bonneville involved as Douglas and that we’ve lured my old friend Karen Gillan back from Hollywood to play Madeline. And like that’s not enough, we’ve got Ben Miles, Alex Kingston, Nick Mohammed and Simon Russell Beale. It’s the kind of cast that makes you terrified about stepping into the room.”
What to expect in Douglas is Cancelled?
“In the series, Douglas lives a perfect life. He enjoys his privileged status as national treasure and host of current affairs show ‘Live at Six’ while off-air he shares a harmonious home with wife Sheila, a newspaper editor,” reads the synopsis. “But their world is turned upside down when, at a family wedding, he’s overheard making an ‘ill-advised joke.’ As a guest threatens to expose Douglas on social media the rumor mill goes into overdrive and sparks off a digital storm that quickly upends his life and career. With her 2 million social media followers, tech-savvy co-anchor Madeline could throw Douglas a lifeline by posting in his defense . . . but will she?”
Douglas is Cancelled is written by Moffat, with Ben Palmer serving as its director. Joining Gillan and Bonneville are Ben Miles, Alex Kingston, Nick Mohammed, and Simon Russell Beale. The four-part series is executive produced by Moffat and Sue Vertue, with Lawrence Till producing. It is a production by Hartswood Films in association with SkyShowtime and BBC Studios Distribution.
