BBC Picks Up New Zealand Cult Doc ‘Escaping Utopia’
| Deadline | Max Goldbart, Jesse Whittock |
The BBC has picked up a premium doc series on a group of people’s clandestine escape from a New Zealand cult. Escaping Utopia is a three-part investigation into Gloriavale Christian Community – New Zealand’s extreme religious cult – and the true stories of people attempting to break free. Fifth Season has sold the series to the BBC along with MTV OY (Finland), SVT (Sweden), NRK (Norway), DR (Denmark) and Movistar Plus+ (Spain). Featuring newly-revealed information, the series from Warner Bros. International Television Production New Zealand documents the intricate planning that went into escapes from Gloriavale – with access to its inner workings, the unravelling of its leadership and the pursuit of justice by a passionate and dedicated resistance movement gaining momentum outside. Jennifer Ebell, Fifth Season’s EVP, EMEA Sales and Acquisitions, said: “Escaping Utopia is a brilliantly crafted series with exclusive inner access on a current and evolving situation, which expertly digs into the psychology of Gloriavale and leaves audiences with a deeper understanding of this closed community. The series had a remarkable response in New Zealand and immediately captivated viewers, so we look forward to now bringing this landmark story of survival to the UK and new international audiences.”