C4 investigates conspiracy theory

Channel 4 (C4) in the UK has commissioned a new conspiracy drama from Kudos Film and Television, while the latter’s series Lip Service has found new audiences in Italy and Brazil.

Utopia (6×60′) tells the story of a group of people whose lives are targeted by a shadowy organisation called The Network after coming into possession of a cult graphic novel, which is said to have predicted the worst disasters of the last century.

Written by Dennis Kelly (Spooks, Matilda) and directed by Marc Munden (The Crimson Petal and the White), it will be produced by Rebekah Wray-Rogers (This is England ’88).

Kelly will also exec produce alongside Karen Wilson (Hustle) and Kudos CEO Jane Featherstone (Life on Mars).

C4 chief creative officer Jay Hunt said Utopia was “everything you expect from a Channel 4 drama – witty, utterly compelling and impossible to ignore.”

Utopia goes into production later this year.

Meanwhile, UK distributor DRG has completed new sales of Lip Service, Kudos’ series about the lives of a group of lesbians living in Scotland.

Season one has been launched in more than 70 countries, with recent deals sending the drama to Rai4 (Italy), Globosat (Brazil), and YLE (Finland).

The second season, which begins on UK diginet BBC3 tomorrow (Friday), has also been pre-sold to channels including HBO Latin America, Super Channel (Canada), Showtime (Australia) and Fox (Italy).

Lip Service is created and written by Harriet Braun (Mistresses). Derek Wax (Sex Traffic, Occupation) and Braun exec produce the series, which is made by Kudos for BBC Scotland.