Channel 4 axes sci fi thriller Utopia

Utopia will not return to Channel 4 as the broadcaster has not renewed a deal for another series.

The critically-acclaimed drama was a hit for the channel over two series, telling the story of a group of people who found a graphic novel that had predicted some of the worst disasters of the last century, and then found themselves pursued by sinister organisation The Network.

A Channel 4 spokesperson told Den Of Geek: "Utopia is truly channel-defining: strikingly original, powered by (creator) Dennis Kelly's extraordinary voice and brought to life in all its technicolor glory through Marc Munden's undeniable creative flair and vision.

"The team at Kudos delivered a series which has achieved fervent cult status over two brilliantly warped and nail-biting series. It also has the honour of ensuring audiences will never look at a spoon in the same way again.

"It's always painful to say goodbye to shows we love, but it's a necessary part of being able to commission new drama, a raft of which are launching on the channel throughout 2015."

Utopia starred Geraldine James, Ian McDiarmid, Fiona O'Shaughnessy, Stephen Rea, Rose Leslie, Alexandra Roach and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett.

A US version of the show is in the works, with Gone Girl director David Fincher and writer Gillian Flynn teaming up for the programme.

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.