BritBox Embraces the Heartwarming ‘Chocolate Wars’ Series from Sony’s Fable and Freddie Highmore’s Alfresco

EXCLUSIVE: BritBox is nearing an agreement to greenlight Chocolate Wars, a series set to explore the confectionery empire-building of the 19th century.

This drama has been in development for over eight years, drawing inspiration from Deborah Cadbury’s 2010 historical book of the same name. Cadbury, an Emmy-winning television producer, is a member of the famous Cadbury family.

Sony Pictures Television and Fable Pictures (Mr Loverman) are producing the series in collaboration with Alfresco Pictures, the production company co-founded by The Good Doctor star Freddie Highmore and Claire Londy.

Chloë Mi Lin Ewart, known for her work on PBS Masterpiece’s acclaimed series All Creatures Great and Small, will serve as lead writer. Fable’s Faye Ward and Hannah Farrell will executive produce alongside Highmore and Londy. Sony is set to handle international distribution.

While BritBox has not finalized the agreement, production is anticipated to begin later this year. The BBC Studios-owned streaming service is expanding its original content offerings, with upcoming titles including The Lady and Agatha Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence.

Deborah Cadbury’s great-great-grandfather was the elder brother of John Cadbury, who established the cocoa shop that evolved into the global brand now synonymous with Cadbury.

Originally conceived, the Chocolate Wars drama aimed to use the chocolate industry of the late 19th century as a lens through which to examine the industrial revolution and the foundations of capitalism in an expansive narrative. However, it remains unclear how much of this initial concept will be retained in the final production.