Atomic mission
Atomic executive producers Jamie Hall and Judy Counihan break down the making of Sky’s globe-trotting action-adventure series and discuss the challenges behind the show’s unique blend of dynamic twists and turns, humour and pathos.
Pitched as an exhilarating action-adventure starring Alfie Allen, Shazad Latif and Samira Wiley, Sky drama Atomic sends two unlikely friends on the unexpected journey of a lifetime.
When free-spirited drug smuggler Max (Allen) collides with JJ (Latif), an enigmatic outsider on the run, they find themselves on a chaotic, high-stakes mission trafficking highly enriched uranium across North Africa and the Middle East.
But the CIA, MI6 and a number of opposing forces are hard on their heels, with highly skilled scientist and a non-official cover (NOC) officer Cassie Elliott (Wiley) leading the charge. Convinced Max and JJ are working in partnership with violent extremists, she embarks on a relentless pursuit as the two new friends find themselves on a wild road trip, confronting covert operatives, an internationally funded cartel and their own pasts.
Now airing on Sky and streamer Now, the five-part series was created by Gregory Burke and inspired by the non-fiction book The Atomic Bazaar by William Langewiesche. It is produced by Vice Studios-owned Pulse Films in association with Sky Studios.
The series is written by Burke, Clare McQuillan, Ishy Din and JW Lee. It is produced by Peter McAleese and directed by Shariff Korver. International sales are handled by NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution.
Here, Jamie Hall and Judy Counihan, both executive producers on Atomic for Vice Studios, take DQ inside the making of the series, discuss how it leans into the action-adventure genre and reveal the challenges of dramatising a pulsating cross-country road trip.
Introduce us to the story of Atomic.
Jamie Hall: Can bad guys save the world? Two of what society would perceive as reprehensible humans end up having their moral compasses tested to see if you will save themselves or humanity. Our characters go on a crazy road trip, and this develops into a buddy story. [It’s] just that they are a drug trafficker and a former jihadi trying to come to terms with where their lives have left them, being chased across the Sahara by the SAS, CIA and a drug cartel.
What are the origins of the project?
Hall: A previous creative exec at Pulse read The Atomic Bazaar, written by the celebrated New York Times journalist William Langewiesche. Pulse optioned the book in 2016 and through a mutual connection started discussing the idea with writer Greg Burke. Greg was then commissioned, in association with Topic Studios, to write a pilot script. This was in 2017.
How has The Atomic Bazaar inspired the series?
Hall: The book is a great jumping off point and informed a lot of the fundamental plotlines of the project, but Greg then brought his unique take and delivered a very dynamic but thought-provoking piece of TV. It is just so sad that William did not get to see the finished show [Langewiesche died in June this year, with the series debuting in August].
How has it evolved over a number of years from its starting point to the show we get to see?
Hall: The project, like many scripted shows, has been on a long and winding journey with various talent attachments, but where we ended up with Shariff directing and Alfie, Shazad and Samira starring really is the best version of the show I could have hoped for.
What can you tell us about how Max and JJ come together, and how does Cassie come to pursue them?
Judy Counihan: Max and JJ are essentially two outlaws whose destinies collide in the Algerian desert. They are thrust together out of mutual need and forced to transport highly enriched uranium for a nuclear bomb. A ‘bromance’ develops as they are pursued across North Africa by various interested parties, but especially Cassie, a nuclear physicist who works for the CIA as NOC in Beirut. Cassie’s whole life’s purpose has been to stop nuclear material from getting into the hands of terrorists. So when the CIA approaches her to help them uncover the plot that Max and JJ are involved with, Cassie is immediately on their tail.
What was the writing process?
Counihan: Gregory Burke wrote a gazillion drafts of episode one, with further episodes written by Ishy Din, Clare McQuillan and Jiwon Lee. The development process was so long that in the final run-up to the series it was Greg and Jiwon [who were] left to wrangle five episodes into the fast-paced, dynamic and complex drama that Atomic is. We had to down tools during the US writers’ strike, but we had enough material in the early drafts to give us the golden opportunity to prep in Morocco during the strike, albeit with a reduced team. This would not have been possible without the backing of Sky and commissioner Sam Hoyle. We were also super aware of the sensitive and nuanced character of JJ. To ensure crucial cultural sensitivity and accuracy, we engaged the services of Islamic scholars and cultural advisors across all the scripts. In addition, there were so many different languages and dialects involved that we needed excellent translators to ensure the authenticity of each character.
How did you want to lean into the action-adventure genre, or did you want to turn expectations on their head in any way?
Counihan: Our mission was to create a really dynamic action show that was both fast-paced and kinetic but also funny and moving. Greg and Shariff really wanted to find the idiosyncratic twists and turns that came from the alliance between a drug trafficker and a former jihadi. The question we asked at the heart of the action was how do two of the worst people in the world save the world? So with that in mind, it was vital that we fell in love with Max and JJ in spite of their histories. As anti-heroes, we wanted to root for them and pose another question: who are the real bad guys? Greg layered the show with bigger questions about our human nature, how none of us are one thing, that everything in the universe is changeable, and that the multi-faceted nature of Max and JJ and their redemption is about changing perceptions. Greg often talked about how he wanted to make a show for physicists, so an action-adventure series seemed a great vehicle for that.
How does the series aim to keep viewers hooked across the five episodes?
Hall: At Pulse we are obsessed with our shows being first and foremost entertaining, but we also want them to be thought provoking, a bit controversial and hopefully disruptive. Atomic captures all those values perfectly.
What was the casting process behind securing Alfie Allen, Shazad Latif and Samira Wiley in the lead roles?
Counihan: As with all big shows, casting was the most critical aspect for the show’s success after the scripts and director. The chemistry between Max and JJ was paramount, but so too was the casting of Cassie, who needed to provide a sense of integrity and a ‘North Star’ to counterbalance the extremities of Max and JJ. Our first port of call was to cast JJ. This role would demand a lot from the actor, given they would be playing a former jihadi. The demands of that role were huge. His backstory is complex and deeply emotional. We only approached one actor: Shazad. The moment Shariff and I met him, we knew he was JJ. Shazad did not hold back any part of himself, which completely translates to his performance.
But as this is a buddy show, we had to ensure chemistry between the two characters. This was not easy because we needed an actor who could bring a level of energy, comedy and emotional depth to Max, who appears on the surface to be happy-go-lucky. At a certain point in the show, both characters break our hearts when they reveal their secrets, so it was important that they both appeared to be an incredibly unlikely pairing. By the end, you see a true friendship of opposites, but a friendship that makes complete sense. We were so incredibly lucky to cast Alfie. It was luck – just sheer luck – that [casting director] Kelly Valentine approached Alfie just at the right time because our production dates had shifted a few times.
Finally, it was Megan Spanjian at Sky who suggested Samira [as Cassie], and we were blown away when she accepted the role. She was just incredible from start to finish. She threw herself into stunt training in week one of arriving in Morocco and just brought a level of professionalism that really raised the bar for all of us.
How would you describe the show’s visual style and how was it achieved?
Counihan: Shariff and I agreed that we wanted to feel the heat, dust and sweat on the screen. We also needed to craft a visual language that matched the pulse and unpredictability of Max and JJ’s story. We wanted to be up close and right in the PoV of our leads. So along with Azul Serra (cinematographer), we used camera movement constantly. Using three cameras – one always mounted on a techno crane – at all times and the drone, we were able to convey the sense of forward movement, the chase and the comedic energy between the two leads. The second camera fixed to a steady cam also contributed to the kinetic, on-the-move energy of Max and JJ. When the story needed an extra shot of adrenaline, we used hand-held and let the operator become part of the storytelling. The scale of our locations – the desert, the mountains, Palmyra – would signify the smallness of Max and JJ caught up in this huge geopolitical plot. We also deployed ‘the eye of God,’ a drone and a bird that would indicate being watched both by the CIA and powers greater than any human being.
Where was the series filmed and how are locations used in the series?
Counihan: Filming in Morocco provided us with all the different countries the show is set in: Algeria, Lebanon, Guinea-Bissau and Morocco itself. The locations needed to telegraph immediately that we were in a new part of North Africa, so we spent a long time searching for these. By shifting between the vastness of the desert to the human density of the medina in Marrakesh and Beirut, we were able to convey this sense of a chase, of being on the run, and that Max and JJ are up against unseen forces. The landscape and the colours of the landscape would feel very different from the chaos and palette of Beirut and Marrakesh. The desert is so rich in colour and is absolutely magical, spiritual in its essence. When Max and JJ contemplate the vast skies, they are in wonder, but in the cities, they are fighting for their lives.
From the outset, what were some of the biggest challenges facing you as an EP on the show and how did you overcome them?
Counihan: The ultimate challenge was to deliver the tone of the show: a mixture of humour, pathos, action, emotional connection – and leaving the audience feeling they really have been on one hell of a ride.
Ultimately, it’s a mixture of luck, talent and working with the right people. At every stage, we had the right mix of skills and talent. From the script all the way through to our sound team, we pulled together the best people, and Shariff Korver was the unifying intelligence that delivered the show we all love. Without the support and input from Sky, a true collaboration, we would not have been able to achieve the quality of this high-end drama.
Why might the series appeal to an international audience?
Hall: The show provides a window into worlds not seen, with epic landscapes, great action sequences and a stellar international cast. Who’s not going to want to watch that?
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tagged in: Alfie Allen, Atomic, Gregory Burke, Jamie Hall, Judy Counihan, Pulse Films, Samira Wiley, Shazad Latif, Sky, Sky Studios