June 2026 - Production Updates + Industry News

The phone is starting to ring for some. Not enough, and not for everyone — but the pipeline is building. The 30 productions below include some significant projects gearing up over the next few months, alongside one notable casualty.

For those still waiting: it’s coming. Just not as fast as anyone would like.

The list of 30 (10 filming, 10 pre-production, 10 development) is below if you want to go straight there.

One casualty this month: Stargate, the sci-fi series based on the 90s film about a portal between worlds, has been cancelled at Amazon. It was set to film at Bray Studios and Shinfield — there’s hope it could return next year. Amazon has seen considerable change recently, with cost management the watchword against spiralling budgets.

On which note — we’re hearing Bond is increasingly looking like it’s pushing into 2027. Who should play him next? Comment below — the more left-field, the better.

The BBC announced brutal cuts last week, aiming to save £500m across news, TV, radio and the nations — 550 job losses. Directors UK, WGGB and Bectu are united in their concern about the damage to the industry, talent pathways, and both global and local content.

A grim outcome — and not the last cuts the BBC will have to make. An often imperfect institution, but still one of the most trusted news services in the world and part of the UK's cultural fabric.

Tom Hardy has left Mobland — or perhaps not, reports vary. Whichever it is, losing a lead this acrimoniously partway through a series is rare, and the production company is reported to be working through a way to resolve it.

The reported complaints include arriving late and not leaving his trailer or dressing room, leaving cast and crew waiting for hours. A grassy area outside his dressing room had apparently been set aside for Hardy to practise Ju-jitsu — it went unused.

But lateness on set is mild compared to what the producers of Mad Max: Fury Road and HAVOC went through — one succeeded despite the friction, the other didn’t.

The Mad Max stories are well documented. Less well known: Hardy signed on to HAVOC with director Gareth Evans (The Raid). Filming began in Cardiff in summer 2021 and wrapped in 2022 — thecallsheet posted crew jobs on it at the time. When reshoots were needed, Hardy was consistently unavailable, contributing to delays on the £80m project, which slipped quietly onto Netflix without fanfare in April 2025 — four years after production started.

Hardy’s HAVOC issues never made headlines the way Mobland has. Public callouts like this are rare for any actor. Here’s hoping the issues get resolved and Hardy can match his talent with reliability.

Series 2 wrapped a couple of months ago; series 3 goes into prep later this year.

Last month, we called TNT Sports’ decision to put the Champions League final behind a paywall the most short-sighted decision imaginable. TNT had the rights to 189 CL games across the season but kept the final paywalled for the first time in the competition’s history. Losing the rights at season’s end anyway, they had nothing left to lose — one final squeeze of the fans on the way out.

According to The Guardian, a record 16.2 million streams traced to 3.7 million IP addresses watched it illegally in the UK — against TNT’s reported 7m UK viewers for the PSG–Arsenal final. Piracy for football is nothing new, but people who’d never previously considered it — angry at rising costs and a worse product — are now crossing that line for the first time.

By keeping the final paywalled, TNT has normalised the behaviour for millions who’ll likely carry it into next season. Annual subscriptions to pirated 4K global sports packages run £70–£80 a year via sideloaded, jailbroken Amazon Firesticks, less again with a VPN workaround.

You might wonder why a film and TV drama newsletter is dwelling on sports piracy — because the same cracked Firesticks and HDR boxes give access to roughly 40,000 films and every decent TV show going.

That’s potentially 3.7m people out of the subscription market, enjoying content you and I pay for. Less money recouped means less going into productions, fewer crew hired, fewer shows made. The ease and normalisation of piracy — driven mainstream by greed over sports rights — will damage film and TV too, including TNT’s own parent companies.

TNT just helped drive millions of customers into the black market.

Greater Manchester Council has announced a £10.5m fund for film, HETV and unscripted productions made in the city. Productions with a broadcast partner or greenlight already in place can apply for funding between £50k and £750k, capped at 20% of the overall budget.

The fund is primarily aimed at below-the-line costs on commercially intended projects — good news for producers, investors and crew wanting Manchester to catch up with Liverpool, which currently leads outside London for filming days. There are a couple of shows in pre-production in Manchester for subscribers in the full list below.

More info and applications: https://secretmanchester.com/greater-manchester-production-fund-film-tv/

Pixel Pathway, a training pathway for new entrants into post production, has expanded — for the first time bringing the five families of the post production industry together around a project originally set up by Cara Kotsky of Residence Pictures.

They’ve been developing the programme since summer 2023; now The Farm, Unit, Goldcrest and Fifty Fifty have joined Residence to set an industry-standard approach to post production training. Residence reached out to us at thecallsheet for advice back in 2023 — at a time when many post houses had sadly left the upper stories of Soho, and the case for the remaining ones coming together was clear.

Applications have closed for now but will reopen — follow them for news on the next intake: instagram.com/joinpixelpathway. In the meantime, we recommend Eleanor Adler’s excellent website: eleanoradler.co.uk

Something we wanted to write about this month, a year after James Gunn spoke out about the impact of late scripts. — Gunn’s quote:

“I do believe that the reason why the movie industry is dying is not because of people not wanting to see movies. It’s not because of home screens getting so good. The number-one reason is because people are making movies without a finished screenplay.”

Late scripts are one of the biggest causes of stress, cost and burnout on a production. Departments are left guessing — where are we shooting, what are we shooting, who’s in this scene, has the role been cast, what costume do they need, do we even have it — and what should have been days or weeks of work gets compressed into a few hours, on top of everything else that’s going on.

It’s become commonplace on almost every job, not just Marvel’s. In one of the most insulting cases we’ve seen, crew on one HETV production — due to start filming the next day — watched their writer post a string of social media updates about walking the dog and getting into online spats, while the whole production was awaiting the scripts for the next day’s shoot.

Late scripts mean you’re not getting the best version of the show on screen, at higher cost, with a burnt-out crew.

Oh, and the same goes for late casting.

Share

BBC: Alison Loose joins the BBC in a newly created role of Director of Production for BBC Studios. Callum Akass has moved from House Productions to Head of Development at BBC Drama. Jon Petrie, Director of BBC Comedy, leaves to join Hat Trick Productions as Creative Director — no replacement announced yet, though there’s at least one strong internal candidate who should get a look in.

Elsewhere, Lorena Wright takes over as Head of Production at Two Brothers Pictures. As reported last month, Barry Ryan is now officially Head of Production at Working Title. Jonathan Lewsley has departed Amazon. Former Creative UK chief Caroline Norbury has moved to Aardman in Bristol.

Doctor Who has left Bad Wolf — the show goes out to tender by the BBC for a refresh, now that Disney has exited the deal.

Charlie Fremantle has departed Ealing Studios after overseeing renovations that turned it into a marvellous mixture of modernity without losing its heritage. Go well, Charlie.

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams. Originally published in 2025, the author has since been legally gagged by her former employer, Meta, from talking about it — so that’s a perfect reason for us to recommend it. A series of astonishing revelations; gripping from the first life-or-death chapter. Hopefully Aaron Sorkin, Mike De Luca and David Fincher pick it up as a spiritual sequel to The Social Network. With the under-16s social media ban coming into law soon, if you were on the fence before, this will settle it.

Emily Blunt, Andrew Scott and Ciárán Hinds have been filming Walk the Blue Fields in Ireland, directed by John Crowley, based on the short story by Claire Keegan — a writer so good you’ll want to read everything she’s written. Before it arrives next year, read or listen to the original: foyles.co.uk/book/walk-the-blue-fields · audible.co.uk/pd/Walk-the-Blue-Fields-Audiobook/0571373518

Two Weeks in August — BBC. Catherine Shepherd’s White Lotus-inspired comedy drama is laugh-out-loud funny and thrumming with hyper-nuanced British awkwardness. Jessica Raine is a revelation, and the writer herself appears in a devastating cameo.

Art department trainees and juniors: Samantha Harvey’s Instagram is worth following — first-hand advice and insight from someone doing the job. instagram.com/harvtonally

• Hello & Paris

• The Day of the Jackal 2

• The Husbands (new Apple TV show)

• How to Train Your Dragon 2

• The Split Up

• Sonic the Hedgehog

• The Forsythe’s Series 3 — wrapping this week

• Shy & Lola – wrapping next week

Contrary to listings you may have seen elsewhere: Supacell Series 2 and Black Doves Series 2 have wrapped. Major Players wrapped months ago.

Subscribe to read on — 30 productions currently filming, in prep or development across UK film and HETV, plus who’s just wrapped.

thecallsheet is an independent industry newsletter. The information contained in this issue is gathered from a combination of publicly available sources and confidential industry intelligence. Where information is unconfirmed, this is indicated in the text.

The production list is compiled using Production Radar, an early-intelligence monitoring system. Productions are included based on verified or credibly sourced information. Stage, location and crew details reflect the position at time of publication and are subject to change.

Nothing in this newsletter constitutes legal, financial or employment advice. thecallsheet accepts no liability for decisions made on the basis of information published here.

This newsletter is intended for subscribers only. Forwarding or reproducing any part of this issue without permission is not permitted.

© thecallsheet 2026. All rights reserved.

Sutherland

Set in the near future, a detective arrives in Sutherland, Scotland, to investigate an old conspiracy as a team of astronauts prepare to leave for their mission to space. Gugu Mbatha-Raw stars.

BBC (World Productions) · Scotland · From 25 May 2026

Director: James Smythe · Producer: Jake Lushington · Producer: Clare Kerr ·

The Bay – Series 6

ITV Crime Drama returns.

ITV (Tall Story Pictures) · Manchester, Morecambe · From June 2026

Director: Brian O’Malley · Director: Bindu De Stoppani · Producer: Martin Campbell · Line Producer: Liv Taylor

Grace – Series 7

Brighton-set crime drama following Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. John Simm stars in the title role.

ITV (Tall Story Pictures) · Brighton · From 27 April 2026

Producer: Kiaran Murray-Smith

Only Murders in the Building – Series 6

Hit Disney+ and Hulu show comes to London to solve a new mystery. Based in West London.

Hulu / 20th Television · Versa Studios / Titan Studios · From May 2026

Line Producer: Nick O’Hagan

Reputation

A celebrity legal battle spirals out of control.

BBC (The Forge) · London

Director: Mahalia Belo · Writer: Anya Reiss · Producer: Alex Kazamia · Line Producer: Henry Woolley

Time – Series 3

Set in a Young Offenders Institution, the series explores the impact of locking up teenagers and the effects on those who look after them.

BBC (LA Productions) · Belfast · From March 2026

Director: Paul Whittington · Producer: Amanda Black · Writer: Jimmy McGovern ·

Mavis Eccleston

The true story of a woman who survived a suicide pact with her husband before being accused of his murder. Stars Dame Penelope Wilton and Sir Jonathan Pryce.

ITV (Corestar Media) · Bristol · From June 2026

Director: Bruce Goodison · Writer: Chris Lang · Line Producer: Carol Cooper

Department Q – Series 2

Matthew Goode returns in this cold-case drama series.

Netflix · Edinburgh · From July 2026

Director: Scott Frank

Open Water

Love triangle drama based on the novel by Caleb Azumah Nelson. Marcus, an aspiring photographer, falls for Effie, who is in a relationship with one of his friends.

BBC (Mam Tor Productions, B-Side) · Birmingham · From June 2026

Director: Stella Corradi · Director: Caleb Azumah Nelson · Producer: Karlvyn Dove · Line Producer: Nichol Hoye · 1st AD: Terry McShane

The Lord’s Day

A deadly siege in the House of Commons. British spy Harry Evans (Damson Idris) finds himself trapped in the corridors of power. Based on the novel by Michael Dobbs.

Netflix (Bad Wolf) · Wales/South West · From April 2026

Director: Ben Chanan · Producer: Chris May · Producer: Jane Tranter · Producer: Dan McCulloch

The Other Bennett Sister Christmas Special

Spin-off project in the Jane Austen world from The Other Bennett Sister.

Britbox (Bad Wolf) · Wales · From August 2026

Avengers: Secret Wars

Avengers reassemble. Based at Pinewood Studios, shooting in the UK and internationally.

Disney (Marvel Studios) · Pinewood Studios · From September 2026

Director: Anthony Russo · Director: Joe Russo

Far Cry

Video game adaptation written and produced by Rob McElhenney, who may also star. Production starts in Tenerife from November before returning to Pinewood.

FX (26 Keys) · Pinewood & Tenerife · From November 2026

Writer: Rob McElhenney · Producer: Simon Emanuel · Producer: Genevieve Jones · Production Designer: Laura Ellis Cricks

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The second book of the series filmed almost back to back with the first while the cast remain the right age.

HBO · Warner Bros Studios Leavesden · From July 2026

House of Guinness – Series 2

Return of the Netflix drama set in 1869 Dublin.

Netflix (Kudos) · Manchester · From Autumn 2026

Writer: Steven Knight

Down Cemetery Road – Series 2

Based on Mick Herron’s novels. PI Zoë Boehm and Sarah Trafford navigate the dangerous world of black market antiquities while hunting a serial killer. Band 3 drama. Based at OMA Studios.

Apple TV+ (60Forty Films) · London · From September 2026

Director: Börkur Sigþórsson · Writer: Morwenna Banks · Producer: Jamie Laurenson · Producer: Hakan Kousetta

The Laird

UPDATE: Series greenlit. Contemporary crime drama. Based at Elstree Studios, filming in Scotland.

Paramount+ · London, Scotland

UPM: Simone Goodridge

Industry – Series 5

Final series of the bold finance drama.

HBO (Bad Wolf) · Wales · From August 2026

Showrunner: Konrad Kay · Showrunner: Mickey Down · Line Producer: Jon Zarych ·

Chocolate Wars

Period drama about the founding of Cadbury’s.

Britbox (Fable Pictures) · Birmingham · From July 2026

Director: Tom McKay · Producer: Faye Ward · Producer: Hannah Farrell · Line Producer: Joseph Sharpe

Dragon Slayers

Matthew Rhys plays Fleet Street legend Harry Evans.

BBC (AC Chapter One) · Manchester · From June 2026

Director: Al Mackay · Writer: Peter Bowker · Producer: Patrick Spence

House of the Dragon – Series 4

Epic fantasy series from the world of Game of Thrones. Based at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden.

HBO · London · From Summer 2026

Paddington 4

Fourth instalment of the series. In development.

StudioCanal (Heyday Films) · London

Writer: Armando Iannucci · Writer: Simon Blackwell · Producer: Rosie Alison

Black Doves – Series 3

Netflix (Sister Pictures) · London

D Notice

6 × 60-minute thriller about investigative journalism for the BBC, from Declan Lawn and Adam Patterson.

BBC (Hot Sauce)

Writer: Adam Patterson · Writer: Declan Lawn

Untitled BBC Sarah Everard Drama

2 × 60-minute drama based on the murder of Sarah Everard.

BBC (Etta Pictures)

Writer: Jeff Pope

The Agency – Series 3

Awaiting greenlight.

Paramount+ (Smokehouse Pictures) · London

Death at the White Hart

Based on the novel by Chris Chibnall.

ITV (Red Planet) · Dorset · From Spring 2027

Director: James Strong · Writer: Chris Chibnall

1536

Based on the play by Ava Pickett. Set in Tudor England against the backdrop of Anne Boleyn’s arrest, weaving royal scandal with rural struggle. 8 × 30.

BBC (Drama Republic)

Writer: Ava Pickett

American Psycho

Updated version of the 2000 film and Bret Easton Ellis novel. Austin Butler rumoured to star.

Lionsgate · Shepperton · From November 2026

Director: Luca Guadagnino · Producer: Nina Jacobson

Untitled Marvel X-Men Film

First film in the reboot of the Marvel universe. Scheduled for 2027, following the Avengers shoot.

Disney (Marvel) · London · From 2027

Director: Jake Schreier · Writer: Michael Lesslie · Producer: Kevin Feige

Mobland – Series 3

Gangster drama returns for its third instalment — not with Tom Hardy. Pre-production from August at Ealing Studios.

Paramount+ · London · From October 2026