In an exciting development for television enthusiasts, it has been announced that the critically acclaimed web series, Dreaming Whilst Black, will be transformed into a full six-part series. Following the success of its award-winning pilot episode in 2021, the show has garnered significant attention and has been commissioned for further episodes.
The co-production of Dreaming Whilst Black involves esteemed partners, including the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and the Emmy-nominated production company, Big Deal Films, known for their remarkable works such as Coconut, Holier Than Thou, and Sparklers. Additionally, the global entertainment company A24, responsible for Beef, Euphoria, and Everything Everywhere All At Once, will be handling international sales. This collaboration signifies A24’s first venture into co-production within the UK.
The series, spearheaded by creator Adjani Salmon, renowned for his involvement in Doctor Who and Chivalry, sees him reprising his leading role from the original web series and pilot. Joining him is Dani Moseley, celebrated for her performances in Everything I Know About Love and Straight Line Crazy, portraying the character of Amy. The pilot’s other talented cast members, including Demmy Ladipo (The Last Tree, We Are Lady Parts) as Maurice, Rachel Adedeji (Champion, R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned) as Funmi, and babirye bukilwa (We Hunt Together, Our Girl) as Vanessa, will also return for the full series.
The supporting cast features Alexander Owen (Jurassic World Dominion, one half of comedy duo The Pin) as Adam and Will Hislop (Gangs of London, PRU, Grantchester) as Lewis. Throughout the series, they will be joined by esteemed actors in recurring roles, such as Isy Suttie (Peep Show), Peter Serafinowicz (The Tick, Shaun of the Dead), Roger Griffiths (Chef!, EastEnders), Martina Laird (The Little Mermaid, Unforgotten), Jo Martin (Doctor Who, The Crouches), Akemnji Ndifornyen (Famalam, Black Ops), and Steve Furst (The Serpent Queen, Walk Like A Panther). Guest appearances will be made by Jessica Hynes (W1A, There She Goes, Shaun of the Dead) and TV Personality and professional basketball player Ovie Soko.
Inspired by real-life events, Dreaming Whilst Black follows the story of Kwabena, an aspiring filmmaker trapped in a mundane recruitment job, as he embarks on a journey to fulfil his dreams. However, he soon finds himself entangled in the challenges of managing finances, love, and his perception of reality.
The commissioning of Dreaming Whilst Black was overseen by Jon Petrie, Director of Comedy Commissioning at the BBC, and Fiona Campbell, Controller of Youth Audience, iPlayer, and BBC Three. The executive producers for the series are Dhanny Joshi and Thomas Stogdon from Big Deal Films, along with Adjani Salmon. The show will be directed by a talented team including Jermain Julien, Koby Adom, Sebastian Thiel, and Joelle Mae David, and produced by Nicola Gregory. Tanya Qureshi, the Commissioning Editor for the BBC, will oversee the project.
The original web series was co-written by Adjani Salmon and Ali Hughes, and it was created by Adjani Salmon, Max Evans, Laura de Sousa Seixas, and Natasha Jatania of 4 Quarters Films.
Excitingly, A24 and the BBC are also in the process of developing series adaptations for Douglas Stuart’s Shuggie Bain and Yomi Adegoke’s The List, further adding to the anticipation surrounding their upcoming projects.
With the remarkable talent involved and the intriguing premise of Dreaming Whilst Black, audiences are eagerly awaiting the release of this much-anticipated series. Stay tuned for further updates as production gets underway.
