WARP FILMS, THE Sheffield-based production company behind the acclaimed Netflix drama Adolescence, has announced plans to produce a modern-day remake of the unflinching 1984 nuclear TV film Threads.
Acclaimed at the time for its “groundbreaking portrayal of a fictional apocalypse,” the BBC drama Threads presented a “harrowing depiction of life in nuclear war-era Britain,” following a nuclear strike on the United Kingdom, centering its story on the city of Sheffield.
Written by Barry Hines and directed by Mick Jackson, the apocalyptic drama starred Karen Meagher and Reece Dinsdale, and had an enormous impact on the millions of viewers who saw it when it was first broadcast – at the height of the 1980s nuclear Cold War stand-off between Russia and the United States.
Forty years after it was first shown, Threads is still widely recognised as the exemplar of contemporary nuclear dystopian TV drama.
“The original film’s chilling account immerses viewers in the struggles of ordinary people facing unimaginable hardship,” Warp Films says. “This adaptation will explore prescient issues through rich, character-driven storytelling.”
Mark Herbert, the CEO of Warp Films, says: “Threads was, and remains, an unflinchingly honest drama that imagines the devastating effects of nuclear conflict on ordinary people. This story aligns perfectly with our ethos of telling powerful, grounded narratives that deeply connect with audiences.”
Reimagining this classic drama will give Warp Films “a unique opportunity to explore its modern relevance,” Herbert adds.
The planned production is not licensed to a particular broadcaster or TV platform, but reports suggest that production on the Threads remake will begin later in 2025, and be scheduled for broadcast in late 2026 or early 2027 – although this will depend on which TV network or service contracts the new series.