ITV commissions high-stakes lunar thriller First Woman starring Andrea Riseborough and Ashley Walters

ITV’s Director of Drama, Polly Hill, has greenlit First Woman, a propulsive six-part lunar thriller featuring Academy Award nominee Andrea Riseborough (To Leslie) and Emmy nominee Ashley Walters (Top Boy). The series is produced by Mammoth Screen and Alcon Television Group in association with ITV Studios, with German broadcaster ZDF joining as co-producers.

Created by Lydia Yeoman and George Oakes, and directed by BAFTA and Emmy winner Philip Martin (The Crown, Scoop), the series follows Ben Reith (Walters), whose life is upended when his wife Claire (Riseborough)—a biologist and the first woman on the moon—vanishes during the long lunar night at the UK’s first moonbase. As the mystery unfolds hundreds of thousands of miles away, Ben must navigate a global news storm and international suspicion involving a rival Chinese base to uncover the truth about his wife’s disappearance.

“As a kid, I dreamed, perhaps more than anything, of space,” said Andrea Riseborough. “I can’t imagine a kinder, bolder, braver team than Philip and Ashley with whom to step into that realm. I cannot wait.” Ashley Walters added: “What an honour to be a part of such a bold and propulsive drama... This project makes us converse and think outside the box.”

A Landmark International Co-Production
The project marks a significant milestone as Alcon Television Group’s (Blade Runner 2099, The Expanse) first co-financed co-production of this scale, signaling their ambition to expand into premium international television partnerships.

“First Woman will keep global audiences on the edge of their seats—it’s the ultimate emotional rollercoaster,” commented James Gandhi and Damien Timmer of Mammoth Screen. Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson of Alcon Television Group described the series as a “gripping, character-driven thriller set against the backdrop of the modern space race.”

Cutting-Edge Virtual Production
Filming is currently underway in Belfast with support from Northern Ireland Screen. The production is utilizing Studio Ulster, the UK’s most advanced virtual production facility, to recreate the lunar landscape and the moonbase. UNIT VFX and production designer Gillian Devenney are collaborating to deliver the series' cinematic scale and spectacular lunar vistas.

First Woman is executive produced by Damien Timmer, James Gandhi, Philip Martin, George Oakes, and Lydia Yeoman for Mammoth Screen, alongside Broderick Johnson, Andrew Kosove, Scott Parish, Diego Piasek, and Ben Roberts for Alcon. The series will be distributed internationally by ITV Studios.

LC