Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

The Year That Changed Britain: ITV developing ‘crucial’ pandemic movie from Oscar-winning director

Film is scheduled for release in 2021

Annabel Nugent
Friday 06 November 2020 08:51 GMT
Comments
Trailer: Netflix docuseries Pandemic

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald has been commissioned to create a Covid-19 documentary for ITV.

The forthcoming feature – titled The Year That Changed Britain – will follow the story of the ongoing pandemic and focus on its impact in the UK.

According to Variety, Macdonald will highlight the intimate personal and professional experiences of those who lived through the pandemic. 

The film begins before coronavirus became a worldwide emergency, tracking its escalation into a national lockdown and beyond.

Filmmakers have reportedly been granted “unprecedented” access to intensive care units across the country, including at the Whittington Hospital in London and the Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire.

Macdonald – whose previous credits include the Academy Award-winning One Day in September – told the publication: “As we are living with the unfolding pandemic we are enduring and adapting to how this affects us all. This film is crucial to our comprehension of what our future will look like.”

He added: “We are able to watch first hand how the landscape of our lives changes.”

In a coincidence of timing, Netflix released their docuseries titled Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak in January, just as the severity of the pandemic was becoming clear.

Last month saw the release of Totally Under Control, a documentary that took to task the Trump administration’s pandemic response in the US.

The Year That Changed Britain will be released in UK and Irish Cinemas in 2021.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in