Paddy Considine and Rory Kinnear in "Blackmere" (Netflix)

Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker is set to expand his Netflix empire. Originally announced last year as “Untitled Charlie Brooker Project,” the forthcoming six-part series was also referred to as Project Codename throughout production, but now, at long last, has an official title: Blackmere. What does it mean? No idea.

(Though given how phonetically similar it sounds to Black Mirror, particularly if you, as Netflix’s Tudum urges, say it slowly, it’s unlikely that’s an accident.)

Details about the show’s plot are equally scarce. We know it will star Paddy Considine (House of the Dragon) as a tormented detective working to stop a ritualistic serial killer and avenge his partner’s death. But, given the absurdist tone attached to every step of this production, it seems safe to assume that there’s more going on here than meets the eye. (“Contains blood and frowning” is not usually how streaming services describe a crime procedural; that’s all I’m saying.)

Even Brooker himself couldn’t resist poking fun at it when the series was first announced. “I’m beyond thrilled to be saying these words for the press release. I’ve dreamt of providing a quote ever since I was a young fetus, and now here I am doing it,” Brooker said at the time. “I’d pinch myself, but like all of us, I’m terrified that if I do that, I might wake up and discover 2025 has all been a magical dream. Please watch my show. I am begging you.”

Is Blackmere secretly a Black Mirror feature? Is Brooker looking to shake up the procedural space the same way he did modern sci-fi? We’ll have to wait until next year to find out.

Paddy Considine in "Blackmere" (Photo: Netflix)

Here’s the series synopsis.

An absurd comedy disguised as an incredibly serious crime thriller. Tormented Detective John Blackmere leaves the rain-soaked Northern city of Bleakford for London to avenge his partner’s death and catch a ritualistic serial killer before they run out of victims. Contains blood and frowning.

Alongside Considine, the series also stars Rory Kinnear (The Diplomat) — who, fun fact, led “The National Anthem,” Brooker’s first-ever episode of Black Mirror — as well as Georgina Campbell (Suspicion) and Lena Headey (Game of Thrones).

Blackmere is written by Brooker, with Ben Caudell, Jason Hazeley, Emer Kenny, Daniel Maier, and Joel Morris, with additional material by Victoria Asare Archer. Al Campbell (The Change) directs all installments, with Richard Webb producing. Brooker is also an executive producer, alongside Jessica Rhoades, Annabel Jones, and Mark Kinsella.

Blackmere is slated to premiere on Netflix in early 2027. Seasons 1-7 of Black Mirror are currently streaming.

Home

‘Black Mirror’ Creator’s Crime Drama To Be Titled ‘Blackmere’