The first trailer for the upcoming limited series,This England(formerly titledThis Sceptred Isle),gives us our first look at Academy Award winner and highly respected thespianKenneth Branaghas the much less well-respected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson. Coming courtesy ofSky,This Englandwill take audiences inside number 10 Downing Street and follow Branagh who, from the trailer, has transformed into Boris Johnson with eerie accuracy.
Based on testimonies of people from the government, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, care homes and hospitals,This Englandis a miniseries that will detail Johnson’s first few months in office, charting the events surrounding him and his government as they struggle to gain control over the pandemic, and specifically the first wave.
“The drama takes us inside the halls of power as Johnson (Branagh) grapples with Covid-19, Brexit, and a controversial personal and political life,” Sky said about the project in a statement. “The events in government are interwoven with stories from around the UK, from the experts and scientists racing against time to understand the virus; the doctors, nurses and care-home workers on the frontline working tirelessly and heroically to contain and overcome it; and ordinary people whose lives were thrown into turmoil.”
The trailer begins with a voice-over from Branagh, who has recreated Johnson’s blustery, blithering delivery to perfection while also seemingly removing the Prime Minister’s face and throwing it over his own. “A new dawn is breaking, 2020 will be a year of prosperity,” Johnson says. Oh, how wrong he was.
The tone of the footage is unmistakably ominous. Though whether that is due to the imminent pandemic or the fact that Boris Johnson has just become Prime Minister will come down to personal opinion. Perhaps both. “This Covid virus we need to keep an eye on,” Branagh continues. Following a montage of clips, we are reminded of the harsh reality as a radio announcer states, “The United Kingdom has overtaken Italy to report the highest official death toll.”
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Kenneth Branagh Has Been Transformed into Boris Johnson for This England
By far the most impressive element of the footage is how successfully Kenneth Branagh has been turned into Boris Johnson. There is not a hint of the actor left as Branagh’s recognizable visage is hidden underneath prosthetics and, of course, a ridiculously scruffy splatter of light blonde hair. No doubt there will be many wondering whetherThis Englandhas just followed Johnson around. Occasionally there is something slightly…inhuman about Branagh’s new face, but considering the real-life inspiration that may have been by design.
Regardless, the transformation of Kenneth Branagh into the Prime Minister is one of the most astounding seensince Colin Farrell was turned intoThe Batmanvillain, The Penguin.
Alongside Kenneth Branagh as Boris Johnson,This Englandalso starsElementaryandGuardians of the Galaxyactress Ophelia Lovibond as Carrie Symonds, who would become Johnson’s wife during the pandemic.BroadchurchandThe Crownstar Andrew Buchan is also on board to play Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who became former Health Secretary after being caught kissing his aide Gina Coladangelo in his office, and thus breaching his own rules. Something which Boris Johnson has also since been found guilty of. There may in fact be too much drama to fit into a limited series.
Directed by Michael Winterbottom,This Englandwill debut on Sky later this year.
