Apple TV+ orders Knightley period drama

Apple TV+ has ordered an adaptation of Sarah Perry’s novel The Essex Serpent from See Saw Films, to be led and executive produced by Keira Knightley.

Keira Knightley
(Photo: Tony Shek via CC)

The period drama will be written by Anna Symon (Mrs Wilson) and Clio Barnard (Dark River) is on board to direct.

It follows a woman, played by Knightley, who relocates from Victorian London to a small village in Essex after leaving an abusive marriage. Once there, she becomes fascinated by a local superstition that a mythical creature known as the Essex Serpent has returned to the area.

It will be produced by Top of the Lake and The New Legends of Monkey producer See Saw Films, which is based in the UK and Sydney.

The news was first reported by Deadline.

Apple TV+ recently renewed its comedy series Ted Lasso for a second, 10-episode season as it continues its original programming push following the launch of Apple TV+ in November last year.

Ted Lasso stars Jason Sudeikis, who also serves as executive producer, alongside Bill Lawrence via his Doozer Productions, in association with Warner Bros Television and Universal Television, part of NBCUniversal Content.

Doozer’s Jeff Ingold also serves as an executive producer with Liza Katzer as co-executive producer. The series was developed by Sudeikis, Lawrence, Joe Kelly and Brendan Hunt, and is based on the existing format and characters from NBC Sports.