5 Minutes
New sky-high caper: what we know
Natasha Lyonne and Matt Berry are joining creative forces on a new retro-leaning comedy-adventure for Sky titled Force & Majeure. Co-created by Lyonne and Berry with comedy writer Tom Scharpling, the series promises a playful reimagining of the classic TV action-adventure detective format, mixing broad comic beats with globe-trotting spy fun and a wink toward 1970s and 1980s genre television.
Premise and tone
Force & Majeure centers on two mismatched protagonists: Thomas Force, a British art expert played by Matt Berry, and Jennifer Majeure, an American mercenary played by Natasha Lyonne. Recruited by an eccentric, justice-obsessed billionaire named Amanda Daventry, the duo travel to locations across Europe to thwart international villains. The set-up teases a familiar buddy-detective rhythm — capers, cliffhangers, and exotic locales — while teasing that their benefactor might be hiding vital secrets.
The tone is described as "retro-infused" and "playfully irreverent," and the creative team seems bent on both honoring and gently lampooning old-school action-adventure shows. Expect stylized set pieces, genre-savvy jokes, and a character chemistry that leans on contrast: Berry's deadpan, baritone comic style against Lyonne's more combustible energy.
Writers, producers and creative pedigree
Writing credits include Tom Scharpling (known for his TV comedy work), Iain Morris (The Inbetweeners, Time Bandits) and Cirocco Dunlap (Russian Doll), which signals a mix of sharp satire and offbeat character comedy. The series is co-produced by Lyonne’s Animal Pictures and Objective Fiction, the All3Media-owned scripted outfit behind titles such as The Gold and Year of the Rabbit (which previously featured Berry). Sky Studios is attached as a partner, with NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution handling international sales.
Landing Lyonne and Berry is notable: Lyonne is widely recognized for creating and starring in Russian Doll and for lead work in Rian Johnson’s Peacock detective series Poker Face, while Berry has a long comic résumé including What We Do in the Shadows, Toast and The IT Crowd. Producer notes also reference recent deals and partnerships from Animal Pictures, including a first-look arrangement with producers of Black Doves.
Industry context and what this means for Sky
Force & Majeure arrives at a moment when nostalgia-driven genre hybrids are popular with buyers and audiences. There’s a visible appetite for shows that revisit established formats — detective procedurals, spy thrillers, action-adventure serials — but do so through contemporary comedic sensibilities. For Sky, the project is a strategic attempt to create an exportable series with international appeal; the show is expected to be shopped to U.S. buyers soon, and co-production ties to Comcast-owned Peacock make transatlantic distribution a natural next step.
Film critic Marko Jensen offered a quick take: "This pairing feels intentionally theatrical — Lyonne and Berry bring very different comic tools, and that friction often produces an entertaining push-and-pull. If the writing keeps pace, Force & Majeure could stand out as a genre pastiche that also has heart."
Beyond the marquee names, the series is interesting as a creative collaboration: the mix of British and American humor, the deliberate retro aesthetic, and the use of a billionaire benefactor as an ambiguous plot engine all indicate a show that will pivot between homage and subversion.
What to expect next
Sky has not announced a launch date or full cast; more casting and scheduling details are anticipated. International sales will be handled by NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution on behalf of Sky Studios. For fans of genre-savvy comedies and retro thrillers, Force & Majeure will be one to watch — especially given the pedigrees involved and the current market appetite for high-concept, character-driven series.
In short: a buoyant mix of pastiche and contemporary comedy that could join a growing list of shows reshaping classic TV genres for modern audiences.
Source: deadline
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