Michaela Coel is set to headline, write, and executive produce a new drama series, “First Day on Earth,” which will be a joint production by HBO and the BBC.
The series, which will commence filming in 2025, is bolstered by a powerhouse team, including Jesse Armstrong, the creator of “Succession,” who joins as an executive producer. Phil Clarke and Roberto Troni also serve as executive producers for Armstrong’s Various Artists Limited, alongside Jo McClellan for the BBC and Piers Wenger for A24.
Expressing her enthusiasm for the project, Coel said, “I am delighted to be working with VAL, HBO and the BBC again, and to partner with A24; thanks to all of their combined taste, care and expertise, I feel our show is in great hands. ‘First Day on Earth’ is another very personal story for me which I hope will engage viewers from all over the world, and I can’t wait for audiences to go on Henri’s journey with her.”
In “First Day on Earth,” Coel will portray Henri, a British novelist facing both personal and professional crises. Struggling with her stagnant career and unfulfilling relationship, Henri seizes an opportunity to work on a film in Ghana, the homeland of her estranged father. However, upon arrival, she quickly discovers that both the job and her father are far from what she anticipated. This unexpected turn of events forces Henri to navigate danger, hypocrisy, and complex new relationships, ultimately challenging her to redefine her identity—a journey that might strengthen her or potentially break her.
Amy Gravitt, executive vice president of HBO & Max comedy programming, expressed her excitement about continuing their collaboration with Coel, said, “Michaela’s words have the ability to transport the reader like no other. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue the conversation that began with ‘I May Destroy You,’ alongside our close collaborators at VAL, A24, and the BBC. With Henri as our guide, ‘First Day on Earth’ is as lyrical as it is visceral in its excavation of the idea of home.”
This new series marks Coel’s first writing venture since her critically acclaimed 2020 limited series, “I May Destroy You,” which earned her an Emmy for outstanding writing. Coel, who gained initial fame with the E4 series “Chewing Gum,” has also made a mark as an actress in films such as “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and in various TV series including “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” “Black Earth Rising,” “Black Mirror,” and “Top Boy.” She will also be seen in the upcoming A24 film “Mother Mary.”
Phil Clarke and Roberto Troni, reflecting on their renewed collaboration with Coel, shared, “We’re delighted and feel extremely lucky that Michaela chose to bring her brilliant new show to us, after the extraordinary experience we had working together on ‘I May Destroy You.’ Yet again, Michaela delivers a highly original, singular story that explores the relationship between England and Ghana via a second-generation British-Ghanaian woman who takes up the opportunity to return to the homeland of her parents and finds herself encountering a cast of memorable characters and experiences that force her to face some painful home truths. But as ever with Michaela, it is by turns shocking, funny and unforgettable, and done in her inimitable style.”
Adding to the praise, Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, said, “Michaela is one of those exceptional talents whose work I have long admired. ‘I May Destroy You’ is one of the reasons I wanted to join the BBC! In ‘First Day on Earth,’ Michaela has created another unmissable series – truly original, heartfelt, hilarious, poetic storytelling and told in a way that only Michaela can. I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”
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