Rogue One's Riz Ahmed returns to UK TV for a powerful new drama series about a British Pakistani family.
The 35-year-old Emmy Award winner has created BBC Two's Englistan, a generational story about the impact that sweeping changes to British society have had one one family of Pakistani immigrants.
Englistan follows the Latifs — Jamal and Fatima, their kids Ashraf, Asim and Razia, and their grandchildren Zahed, Ayesha and Naseem — as they weather political movements, religious strife and economic success and hardship while trying to maintain their identity.
(Riz Ahmed with his Emmy)
"I'm excited to be working with Esther Springer and all the team at BBC Studios," Ahmed said. "Englistan is an untold British story with universal themes and resonance. It's the story I always wanted to tell, and it's a privilege to have the opportunity to do so."
Ahmed began his career in UK TV with shows like Britz and Dead Set, before venturing across the pond to earn an Emmy for his poignant performance in HBO's crime drama The Night Of.
"Set against the familiar backdrop of the late 20th [century] but from a point of view which feels entirely new, Englistan is the story of the birth of multicultural Britain as seen from the inside," BBC Drama controller Piers Wenger said. "We are honoured to be working with Riz on this epic, deeply personal story."
Englistan will air for nine, 60-minute episodes on BBC Two.
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