Steve McQueen Begins Shooting New BBC Series

Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen is collaborating with the BBC on a new 1970's anthology series set in London.

The '12 Years a Slave' filmmaker has compiled a star-studded British cast for the show, including 'Star Wars' actor John Boyega and 'Black Panther' breakout Letitia Wright.

Other cast members include Evening Standard Theatre Awards' Outstanding Newcomer Malachi Kirby ('Curfew', 'Black Mirror', 'Roots'), Shaun Parkes ('Lost In Space', 'Hooten & The Lady'), Rochenda Sandall ('Line Of Duty', 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch'), Alex Jennings ('A Very English Scandal', 'Victoria') and Jack Lowden ('The Long Song', 'Mary Queen of Scots').

'Small Axe' is an anthology of hour-long stories conceived and written by Steve McQueen with Alastair Siddons and Courttia Newland. Alex Wheatle is a writing consultant to the series.

The 6x60' films tell five stories, with the first told across two episodes, and are set within London's West Indian community from the late 1960s to the early 80s.

Steve McQueen said: "I felt these stories needed to be shared. I wanted to re-live, re-evaluate and investigate the journeys that my parents and the first generation of West Indians went on to deliver me here today calling myself a Black British person. What's important about our stories is that they are local but at the same time global. I think audiences will identify with the trials, tribulations and joy of our characters as well as reflecting on the present environment in which we find ourselves. The dynamic nature of the series allows us to confront injustice in the face of adversity hence the proverb Small Axe, 'if you are the big tree, we are the small axe' (Bob Marley)."

It is being developed by BBC One, Lammas Park and Turbine Studios, representing the latter's first project out of the gate.

Shooting began on Small Axe earlier this week, Monday 24 June.