BBC Two has confirmed that it’ll be bringing us a brand new drama series, Englistan, created by Riz Ahmed (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Nighcrawler, Four Lions).
No air date has been announced for the new show, but the nine 60-minute episodes of Englistan that are already planned will likely start airing in late 2018 or early 2019.
Here’s a synopsis for Englistan, released by BBC Two this week:
Englistan is the story of three generations of a British Pakistani family, the Latifs; Jamal and Fatima, their children Ashraf, Razia and Asim, and their grandchildren Zahed, Naseem and Ayesha. We follow them as they pursue their dreams over four tumultuous decades, navigating shifting circumstances and evolving loyalties.
Englistan will re-frame recent British history, and shine a light on the forces that have made our society what it is today. We will follow them through political movements and economic boom and bust, through gang-land rivalries and assimilation into the heart of the establishment, through spiritual soul-searching and religious conflict.
Our characters will question what it means to be true to oneself, to belong, and whether ‘home’ is a country, a community, or something much more personal. Above all this is a story of family, of the enduring love a family provides, how it sustains us, restricts us, and defines us for better or worse.
“I’m excited to be working with Esther Springer and all the team at BBC Studios,” said Ahmed in a statement. “Englistan is an untold British story with universal themes and resonance. It’s the story I always wanted to tell, and it’s a privilege to have the opportunity to do so.”
Patrick Holland, Controller of BBC Two, added: “Riz Ahmed is a phenomenal talent and Englistan promises to be a hugely ambitious, layered and resonant drama about family and identity. New writing, massive canvas, the biggest issues; it is a perfect drama for BBC Two.”
It’s unclear at present if Ahmed is also set to star in the series.
More on this as we get it.