Kenneth Branagh to play Boris Johnson in upcoming series about Covid-19

The show is slated to release in fall, 2022

Actor Kenneth Branagh is set to play the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in an upcoming Sky TV series detailing Britain’s muddled response to the pandemic, reported Variety.

Directed and written by The Trip helmer Michael Winterbottom, the five part drama is titled This Sceptred Isle.The show will be produced by Fremantle, Richard Brown’s Passenger and Winterbottom’s Revolution Films.

The project, however, was announced in June and was yet to secure a broadcast partner to finally announce casting. But it has now been revealed that it will chart the events surrounding Johnson and his government in the face of the first wave of Covid-19.

The UK leader was hospitalised with Covid-19 for over a week in late March 2019. He spent a number of days in intensive care.

“The first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic will be remembered forever,” said Winterbottom. “It marks a time when the country came together to battle an invisible enemy and when people became more aware than ever about the importance of community.”

He added, “Our series weaves together countless true stories — from Boris Johnson in Number 10 to front line workers around the country — chronicling the efforts of scientists, doctors, care home workers and policy makers to protect us from the virus.”

The series is slated to launch on Sky in fall 2022.

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