Sheffield’s own Warp Films has announced its next major project – and it’s a big one. Hot on the heels of their Netflix smash Adolescence, the production powerhouse is set to adapt Threads, the harrowing 1984 nuclear war drama, into a new limited TV series.
Originally broadcast by the BBC, Threads is widely regarded as one of the most chilling portrayals of nuclear apocalypse ever committed to screen. Set in Sheffield and nominated for seven BAFTAs (winning four), the film follows the devastating aftermath of a nuclear attack and the slow collapse of British society. Four decades later, its relevance has only deepened.
“Threads was, and remains, an unflinchingly honest drama that imagines the devastating effects of nuclear conflict on ordinary people,” said Mark Herbert, Warp Films’ founder and CEO. “This story aligns perfectly with our ethos of telling powerful, grounded narratives that deeply connect with audiences.”
According to Warp, the new TV adaptation will lean into “rich, character-driven” storytelling, taking the terrifying DNA of the original and reimagining it for today’s world. Emily Feller, the company’s chief creative officer, added: “Threads is clearly a deeply impactful story and right now, it feels more relevant than ever. This adaptation will allow us to uncover fresh interpretations in light of today’s world. We imagine highlighting how resilience and connection can offer hope even in the most challenging of times.”
The announcement follows the runaway success of Adolescence, the gritty drama co-developed with Matriarch Productions, the company founded by Stephen Graham and Hannah Walters. That series – centred on a teenage boy accused of murdering a girl at his school – stormed the Netflix charts, drawing 24.3 million views in just four days and hitting a staggering 66.3 million within two weeks, breaking records for an English-language limited series.
Warp’s legacy of making raw, socially resonant dramas (This is England, The Virtues, The Last Panthers) makes it the ideal studio to take on a reboot of Threads – especially given its Sheffield roots. The original film’s brutal realism, grounded in the very streets the company calls home, made it essential viewing then. Now, Warp looks set to introduce its powerful message to a new generation.
No casting or production dates have been announced yet, but we’re already preparing ourselves to hide behind the sofa!
