Michaela Coel will write the screenplay for and star in her new BBC drama “First Day on Earth.”
In her first TV drama since the award-winning series I May Destroy You in 2020, the actress and filmmaker will also serve as executive producer of the 10-part series for the BBC, which begins filming next year.
The series is about British novelist Henri, played by Michaela, who moves to Ghana for professional reasons and to reconnect with his estranged father.
In a statement to the BBC, Michaela said: “The making of First Day on Earth has been a wonderful, intimate experience so far and I’m excited to move on to the next phase and ultimately offer this as another television gift for anyone who wants to join Henri on this wild odyssey!”
“I am delighted to be working with VAL, the BBC and HBO again and to be partnering with A24. Thanks to their taste, care and expertise, I feel our show is in good hands.”
Announcing the series ahead of the Edinburgh TV Festival, Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, added: “Michaela is one of those extraordinary talents whose work I have long admired.
“‘I May Destroy You’ is one of the reasons I wanted to come to the BBC! With ‘First Day on Earth’, Michaela has created another unmissable series – a truly original, heartfelt, hilarious, poetic tale told in a way that only Michaela can. I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”
The 36-year-old star previously turned down $1 million from Netflix for “I May Destroy You” because the streaming service wouldn’t give her a share of the copyright. She would advise aspiring filmmakers to follow their instincts in a similar way.
She told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: “I have this vague belief that if you say no to the things that don’t feel right, that don’t align with your sense of integrity, everything will be OK. Sometimes it can take years to get there. But if you follow your moral compass, you’ll get there.”
