The star of I May Destroy You returns to the corporation for her latest series.
Since breaking through with her sitcom Chewing Gum, Michaela Coel’s rise has been fascinating. From guest roles in Black Mirror and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, to starring in Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
At the same time, Coel writes and produces her own shows. The critically acclaimed I May Destroy You took inspiration from her own experience of sexual assault.
Now, Coel’s latest show will explore the relationship between England and Ghana via a second generation British-Ghanaian woman who returns to the homeland of her parents. The 10-part series comes from Various Artists Limited and is a co-production between the BBC and HBO.
Here’s the synopsis for First Day on Earth:
British novelist Henri (Michaela Coel) is stuck. Work has dried up, her relationship is going nowhere. So when she’s offered a job on a film in Ghana, West Africa – her parents’ homeland, where her estranged father lives – she can’t resist the chance to reconnect with him and the country of her heritage.
But when she arrives neither the job nor her father turn out the way she expected, and soon Henri has to deal with danger and hypocrisy, form new friendships, lose her illusions, and create a new sense of identity – one that might leave her stronger, but could also break her.
Michaela Coel said:
“I am delighted to be working with VAL, the BBC and HBO again, and to partner with A24; thanks to all of their combined taste, care and expertise, I feel our show is in great hands. The process of creating FDOE thus far has been a beautifully intimate experience, and I am excited to embark on the next phase to eventually offer this as another televisual gift for anyone willing to accompany Henri on what will be a wild odyssey!”
First Day on Earth‘s executive producers are Michaela Coel and Jesse Armstrong (Succession). Plus, Phil Clarke and Roberto Troni for Various Artists Limited, Jo McClellan for the BBC and Piers Wenger for A24.
The show films in 2025 – we’ll keep you posted.
In the meantime, you can still find I May Destroy You on iPlayer.