Paramount+ has today debuted the official trailer for its forthcoming UK original drama “The Doll Factory”, an adaptation of Elizabeth MacNeil’s bestselling eponymous novel.
Esmé Creed-Miles (“Hanna”) stars as Iris, a frustrated artist, who spends her days creating mourning dolls alongside her twin sister Rose, played by Mirren Mack (“The Witcher: Blood Origin”, “The Nest”). By night, Iris secretly paints herself naked in the cellar, displaying a fantastical creativity that she is forced to subdue during the day whilst living under the watchful eyes of Mrs. Salter, played by Pippa Haywood (“Magpie Murders”). Éanna Hardwicke (“The Sixth Commandment”) is Silas, a taxidermist who hopes to one day find an item so unique he will be catapulted to fame. George Webster (“Wedding Season”, “Masters of the Air”) is Louis, a painter and member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, searching for his next muse.
In a city buzzing with the prospect of the Great Exhibition, their three worlds collide, and Iris is offered the chance to escape and build a new life. But to do so, she must abandon her sister and sacrifice her reputation. As Iris’ world expands, she finds herself challenging patriarchal beliefs, exploring her sexuality and experiencing the things she has always dreamed of. Yet with her newfound independence comes a tale of dark obsession.
The series also stars Sharlene Whyte (“Stephen”), newcomer Reece Kenwyne-Mpudzi, Freddy Carter (“Shadow and Bone”), Saoirse-Monica Jackson (“Derry Girls”), Laurie Kynaston (“The Sandman”), Jim Caesar (“The Witcher”), Akshay Khanna (“Chloe”), Aysha Kala (“The Undeclared War”) and Nell Hudson (“Outlander”).
Commenting on the release, the author of the source novel, Macneal said: “It might sound like a cliché, but to have my novel turned into a TV series is a dream come true. It has been an extraordinary process to see ideas that once existed only in my head, coming to life on set and now on screen. Each scene has been perfectly rendered – from the artist Louis Frost’s lavish painting studio, to the doll shop where twins Iris and Rose paint the faces of china dolls. Buccaneer has been a joy to work with, and Charley Miles’s script excited me from the very first page. I can’t wait to share this story with viewers!”
Tony Wood, Anna Burns and Richard Tulk-Hart are Executive Producers for Buccaneer. Charley Miles is the series screenwriter and is also Executive Producer. Sacha Polak (“Hanna”, “Dirty God”) is Director, Cathy Brady (“Wildfire”, “Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope”) is the second Director, whilst Suzanne McAuley (“Magpie Murders”, “Maigret”) is Series Producer and Julie Harkin (“I May Destroy You”, “Becoming Elizabeth”) is Casting Director.
Cineflix Rights will be distributing the series internationally and public broadcasters SBS in Australia, and New Zealand’s TVNZ have also boarded the historic thriller.
“The Doll Factory” will stream on Paramount+ UK & Ireland from 27th November with all episodes available from 1st December.
