Michaela Coel’s New BBC Drama “I May Destroy You” is Coming Soon

After the massive success of her BAFTA-winning series, I May Destroy You, Michaela Coel has a new drama in development.

The actress will write, star, and serve as an executive producer for an upcoming ten-part BBC show titled First Day on Earth. The series follows a British novelist who takes a new film job in Ghana, aiming to reconnect with her estranged father and explore her parents’ homeland.

Succession creator Jesse Armstrong will also serve as an executive producer on the series, which is co-produced by HBO and made in association with A24.

The official synopsis states: “British novelist Henri (Michaela Coel) is stuck. Work has dried up, her relationship is going nowhere. So when she’s offered a job on a film in Ghana, West Africa – her parents’ homeland, where her estranged father lives – she can’t resist the chance to reconnect with him and the country of her heritage.

“But when she arrives, neither the job nor her father turn out the way she expected, and soon Henri has to deal with danger and hypocrisy, form new friendships, lose her illusions, and create a new sense of identity – one that might leave her stronger but could also break her.”

Filming for the series is scheduled to begin next year.

Michaela described the story as a “wild odyssey” in a statement about the show. “I am delighted to be working with VAL, the BBC, and HBO again, and to partner with A24; thanks to all of their combined taste, care, and expertise, I feel our show is in great hands,” the 36-year-old said. “The process of creating FDOE thus far has been a beautifully intimate experience, and I am excited to embark on the next phase to eventually offer this as another televisual gift for anyone willing to accompany Henri on what will be a wild odyssey!”

Meanwhile, Director of BBC Drama Lindsay Salt described the show as an “unmissable series”. “Michaela is one of those exceptional talents whose work I have long admired. I May Destroy You is one of the reasons I wanted to join the BBC,” Lindsay said. “In First Day on Earth, Michaela has created another unmissable series – truly original, heartfelt, hilarious, poetic storytelling and told in a way that only Michaela can. I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”

Michaela rose to fame in 2015 after creating and starring in the E4 sitcom, Chewing Gum, which earned her a BAFTA for Best Female Comedy Performance. Shortly after, she received widespread critical acclaim for her BBC drama I May Destroy You, loosely based on her own experience of sexual assault.

The black comedy won numerous awards, including five BAFTA Awards for Best Actress, Best Drama, and Best Mini-Series, as well as two Emmy Awards.

Since then, she’s appeared in Netflix’s dystopian series Black Mirror, Prime Video’s spy thriller Mr. & Mrs. Smith, and the 2022 superhero film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.