HBO, BBC to coproduce drama series based on Ava Pickett’s West End play 1536

Warner Bros Discovery-owned HBO and UK pubcaster the BBC are teaming up to coproduce a new drama series from showrunner and writer Ava Pickett.

Ava Pickett

The six-part 1536 series is being made by Drama Republic, a Mediawan Group company, for HBO, BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

Pickett (How To Get To Heaven from Belfast, The Great) will write, showrun and exec produce the series based on her play of the same name.

Molly Manners (One Day, In My Skin) will direct and serve as executive producer. Additional executive producers include Jude Liknaitzky, Roanna Benn, Rebecca de Souza and Chloe Beeson for Drama Republic, plus Anna Ferguson for the BBC.

The plot is described as a darkly comic story about friendship, sisterhood and a changing world. Set in Tudor England as Henry VIII’s relationship with Anne Boleyn falls apart, it explores how the actions of a man in power change the fate of working-class women on the edges of the country.

Pickett said: “I’m so excited and thrilled to be working with HBO, the BBC and Drama Republic on 1536 and feel very lucky to have them champion this story so fiercely. And to be collaborating with the brilliantly talented Molly Manners is a dream come true. I can’t wait to bring this story about power, patriarchy and friendship to a new audience.”