BAFTA-Winning Game ‘Atomfall’ is Being Adapted for TV by the Team Behind ‘The Assassin’
EXCLUSIVE: The British video game Atomfall is set to make its television debut, thanks to a collaboration between Rebellion and Two Brothers Pictures, known for acclaimed productions like The Assassin and Fleabag.
Developed by the indie studio Rebellion, the TV adaptation of Atomfall is currently in the works. The game has enjoyed both critical and commercial success, winning the Best British Game award at this month’s BAFTA Game Awards. Since its release last year, it has captivated over 3.7 million players.
Atomfall presents a uniquely British interpretation of the post-apocalyptic genre, drawing heavily on classic British science fiction and folk horror. The narrative unfolds in a walled and militarized Quarantine Zone located in England’s Lake District, established following a nuclear incident. While the outside world is presumed to function as usual, life within the zone has transformed into something disturbingly extraordinary. The story follows a protagonist who awakens in the Quarantine Zone with no recollection of how they arrived there.
The concept for Atomfall originated from Jason Kingsley, co-founder of Rebellion, and was influenced by the real-life Windscale nuclear disaster of 1957, which remains the most serious nuclear accident in UK history.
Watch on Deadline
The series is being developed as a co-production between Two Brothers and Rebellion. Emmy and Golden Globe-winning writers Harry and Jack Williams, co-founders of Two Brothers, are on board to pen the TV drama.
“Atomfall has such a distinctive British tone and setting, and it’s been a real joy developing it alongside the Rebellion team – especially as two brothers working alongside two brothers (Jason and Chris Kingsley),” they stated. “There’s something very exciting about expanding this strange, unsettling story for television.”
Jason Kingsley, CEO and Creative Director of Rebellion, along with Chris Kingsley, Co-founder and CTO, will serve as executive producers. “Harry and Jack demonstrated a clear love for Atomfall and shared their own potential endings when they were playing the game,” they remarked. “It is always thrilling to collaborate with individuals who share a passion for creating compelling stories, and we are confident that this partnership will result in a television series that delights fans of the game and beyond.”
Alex Mercer, known for Doctor Who, will also executive produce for Two Brothers, while Ben Smith, associated with Rogue Trooper, will do so for Rebellion.
Two Brothers is a subsidiary of All3Media and boasts a portfolio that includes Fleabag, Liar, Baptiste, and The Assassin. Meanwhile, Rebellion is recognized for works in gaming and publishing and is expanding into film and television. It owns the iconic 2000 AD comic series, home to characters such as Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, Sláine, and Zenith. The studio also has facilities in Oxfordshire, England. The first footage of Duncan Jones’ film adaptation of Rogue Trooper was recently released. Atomfall marks a significant venture into television, joining the ranks of recent video game adaptations like The Last of Us and Fallout.
