Peter Hoar, the Emmy-nominated director of the acclaimed series The Last of Us, has embarked on a significant venture in the film industry. He has established Multitude Productions, a new production company focused on genre-based content, and is currently working on a reboot of the classic British sci-fi series Blake’s 7. This beloved show, which originally aired on the BBC from 1978 to 1981, has become a cult favorite over the decades.
Hoar has teamed up with Matthew Bouch, an executive producer known for his work on A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, and Jason Haigh-Ellery, a producer with extensive experience in West End theatre. Together, they have secured a variety of intellectual properties, including Blake’s 7, from the estate of its creator, Terry Nation. Hoar intends to direct the reboot, which is expected to attract interest from buyers soon.
The original Blake’s 7 followed the story of political dissident Roj Blake, portrayed by Gareth Thomas, who leads a group of rebels against a totalitarian regime. Despite several attempts to revive the show in recent years, none have gained significant traction. Bouch expressed a desire for the reboot to air on the BBC, indicating that they will likely pursue co-production funding from American streaming services and European broadcasters.
As genre programming faces challenges, Hoar and Bouch believe that now is the perfect moment to launch Multitude Productions. Hoar compared the original Blake’s 7 to the critically acclaimed series Andor, emphasizing that the success of a show is not solely dependent on its budget but rather on its integrity and storytelling quality. He noted that the recent exit of Doctor Who from Disney+ serves as a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of high-budget productions lacking sufficient narrative strength.
New Directions for Multitude Productions
Bouch articulated the mission of Multitude Productions, stating, “We’re driven by our passions but also seeing that there is a gap in the market in the UK.” The pair aims to capitalize on the nostalgia for 70s and 80s genre programming while looking towards the international market for opportunities. They recognize the economic challenges facing the industry and are committed to creating content that aligns with both British sensibilities and global appeals.
In addition to Blake’s 7, Multitude is developing a television adaptation of Luke Rhinehart’s The Search for the Dice Man, which is a sequel to the cult classic, Dice Man. The film adaptation will feature an A-list star, with Danny Wallace writing the script and Tim Kirkby directing. The company has also optioned the Skeleton Creek book series by Patrick Carman, which Hoar described as “a British Stranger Things crossed with Skins.”
Multitude Productions is also exploring new funding avenues, including a version of Rikako Akiyoshi’s The Dark Maidens, which is being partly funded by the Singaporean government. They are collaborating with former fraudster Tony Sales on a crime series titled Scammers.
The team at Multitude Productions is advocating for a collaborative writing model, differing from the traditional showrunner approach prevalent in the UK. Bouch explained, “We’ve never really had a showrunner model in the UK, and I think it is full of problems.” By promoting a multi-writer system, they aim to rejuvenate the industry and bring new talent into the fold.
With the entertainment landscape evolving, Hoar and Bouch are confident that their innovative approach will fill a noticeable gap in the market. They acknowledge the challenges but remain optimistic about the potential for success as they move forward with Multitude Productions and the Blake’s 7 reboot.
