Category: THE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR
Birth of an icon
A young French actress’s rapid rise to global superstardom is charted in six-part biopic Bardot. Mother-and-son writing and directing team Danièle Thompson and Christopher Thompson explain why and how they wanted to tell the story of the ‘world’s first influencer.’
Redirecting the future
Unforgotten director Andy Wilson charts the journey to finding the right character and actor to replace Nicola Walker’s departing DCI Cassie Stuart in ITV’s acclaimed cold-case drama.
Chemical reaction
Paramount+ series The Chemistry of Death brings Simon Beckett’s novels about a forensic anthropologist Dr David Hunter to the small screen. Director Richard Clark tells DQ about finding the right formula for filming the rural crime drama across the UK and the freedom he had behind the camera.
Grand designs
Director Kerren Lumer-Klabbers explains how she laid the foundations for her first TV series, Norwegian drama Arkitekten (The Architect), which presents a near-future Oslo where a young woman finds an unusual solution to building new housing.
Deer to his heart
A family is torn apart and secrets are reveals when a criminal matriarch passes away in Finnish drama Poromafia (Reindeer Mafia). Director Mika Kurvinen discusses the influences behind this darkly comedic series and the challenges of filming in Lapland.
Time for action
Hollywood stars Michael Chiklis and Marlee Matlin are best known for their on-screen performances, but crime anthology Accused sees them both step behind the camera. DQ finds out all about their directing ambitions.
Royal flush
Looper, Star Wars and Knives Out director Rian Johnson has teamed up with star Natasha Lyonne for his first television series, Poker Face. He tells DQ about his love of ‘howcatchem’ mysteries and reviving the classic story-of-the-week format for streamer Peacock.
Fantasy politics
Stan & Ollie director Jon S Baird tells DQ about moving into television miniseries with ITV drama Stonehouse, partnering with star Matthew Macfadyen and bringing a heightened tone to this farcical true story.
A new direction
A host of leading female directors tell DQ about their latest projects and how their role behind the camera is changing in a television landscape where the pressure for series to stand out is greater than ever.
Staging a Reunion
Six-part mystery thriller The Reunion sees old friendships pushed to extremes by 25-year-old revelations. Director Bill Eagles tells DQ about helming this European production, working with two sets of actors and why he doesn’t want to be typecast.
Soul searching
Souls creator Alex Eslam and co-director Hanna Maria Heidrich introduce this mind-bending German drama which questions the phenomenon of past lives through three interweaving stories.
The London look
Known for its balletic action sequences, Gangs of London is back for a second season. Director Corin Hardy tells DQ about helming the series and breaks down a key scene from the first episode.
Western promise
As anticipation builds for the launch of Sky and Canal+ original series Django, director Francesca Comencini outlines her approach to reimagining Sergio Corbucci’s influential film and discusses her love of westerns.
Joy and Sorrow
Finnish director Jani Volanen tells DQ how an unmade film script formed the basis of coming-of-age mystery drama Munkkivuori (Summer of Sorrow), about one boy’s summer in a town where a young child has gone missing.
Boys will be boys
Rising Danish director Jonas Risvig speaks to DQ about steering his biggest project to date, Viaplay drama Drenge (Boys), and how he drew on his own life for this story about a group of friends finding their way in life.
Dark times
US director Dennie Gordon illuminates DQ on how she brought her taste for action drama to Last Light, a globetrotting family drama set at the start of an energy crisis that threatens to disrupt every corner of society.
Hooper’s dream job
Director Louise Hooper tells DQ about her rise from arts documentaries to epic fantasy dramas, shooting Netflix’s secret The Sandman episode and creating series to suit her own surrealist imagination.
Bad blood
Bad Sisters lead director Dearbhla Walsh lifts the lid on making Apple TV+’s dark comedic thriller, teaming with creator Sharon Horgan and filming in a popular Irish bathing spot.
Visiting Maryland
Co-director Brian Hill lifts the lid on how Maryland, Lucy Kirkwood’s stage play about the culture of violence against women, was transformed into a compelling piece of television starring Hayley Squires and Zawe Ashton.
Shooting Sherwood
Sherwood lead director Lewis Arnold talks to DQ about the success of the James Graham-scripted crime drama, working with the starry British cast and why he almost left the show.