Atlantis (TV series)

Lore & Background

The show's protagonist, Jason, pilots a one-man submarine in the modern day to investigate a deep sea disturbance linked to his father's disappearance. He is pulled into a white light and wakes up on the shores of Atlantis, ruled by King Minos and Queen Pasiphae. Initially on the run, he is sheltered by Pythagoras and Hercules, and the trio encounters monsters, gods, and demigods over two seasons, battling to protect the innocent. They gain allies including Medusa, Ariadne, and the Oracle, who predicts a world-changing destiny for Jason.

Atlantis was created to fill the gap left by Merlin, produced by Urban Myth Films. Filming took place in Wales and Morocco, with a 155,000sq ft warehouse converted into a studio. The first series was filmed from 1 April 2013 to 1 November 2013. The cast includes Mark Addy as Hercules, Jack Donnelly as Jason, Robert Emms as Pythagoras, Aiysha Hart as Ariadne, Sarah Parish as Pasiphae, Juliet Stevenson as the Oracle, Jemima Rooper as Medusa, and Amy Manson as Medea.

The series was the biggest new Saturday night drama series launch across all BBC channels since 2006, drawing 1 million viewers away from The X Factor. A second series was ordered on 26 October 2013, premiering on 15 November 2014. On 23 January 2015, the series was cancelled; a planned third series inspired by Jason and the Argonauts was not commissioned.

Reader's Guide

Atlantis holds significance as a major BBC fantasy-drama launch, achieving the highest Saturday night drama debut across all BBC channels since 2006. It successfully drew viewers from the popular ITV show The X Factor, demonstrating its broad appeal. The series was produced by the team behind Merlin, aiming to fill that show's gap, and was co-produced by BBC America for US broadcast. Despite its strong start and a second series commission, the show was cancelled in January 2015, ending after two seasons. Its legacy includes a soundtrack released by Silva Screen Records, composed by Stuart Hancock, praised for its cinematic orchestral feel. The series remains available on streaming platforms such as BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and The Roku Channel, allowing continued viewership.

Did You Know?

• The show drew 1 million viewers away from ITV's The X Factor during its first series.
• The series was filmed in a converted 155,000sq ft former cold store building near Chepstow.

The Mythological Premise

Jason, a modern-day submarine pilot, sets out to investigate a deep-sea disturbance that claimed his father years earlier. When his vessel begins to fail at the site, he is swallowed by a burst of white light and awakens on the shores of the legendary kingdom of Atlantis. There, the realm is divided between the traditionalist King Minos and his ambitious wife Queen Pasiphae, who schemes to seize the throne for herself. Initially hunted by the authorities, Jason finds refuge with two unlikely locals: Pythagoras, a bright young thinker who has not yet stumbled upon his famous theorem, and Hercules, a former prize fighter who has become a hopeless romantic haunting taverns and gambling dens. Together, the trio stumble through a string of Greek myths, facing monsters, gods, and demigods while trying to protect the innocent. Along the way they gather allies such as Medusa, a palace servant; Ariadne, the King's daughter and heir; and the enigmatic Oracle, who appears to have foreseen Jason's arrival and predicts a world-shaping destiny awaits him if he stays on the right path.

A Record-Breaking Saturday Night Launch

Atlantis hit BBC One on 28 September 2013 and immediately made history as the most significant new Saturday night drama debut across every BBC channel since 2006, a milestone that even the launch of the hugely popular Merlin had set. The show's arrival was so powerful that it siphoned roughly one million viewers away from ITV's The X Factor, which was broadcasting in the same UK time slot. The series had been conceived specifically to fill the programming void left by Merlin, a show that creators Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy had also developed. They brought in Howard Overman, known for Misfits, and the trio produced the series through their newly formed company Urban Myth Films. The BBC's commitment was matched internationally: BBC America announced a co-production deal in July 2013, and the series was slotted into the network's Supernatural Saturday lineup in the autumn. A multi-platform viral marketing campaign spanning Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook, along with a series of teaser trailers and cast reveals in the weeks before the premiere, built considerable anticipation ahead of the first broadcast.

Filming and Production

The production of Atlantis was a substantial logistical undertaking. The series was shot across two countries, Wales and Morocco, and required a dedicated studio space to house its elaborate sets. A 155,000-square-foot warehouse, originally a cold store near Chepstow, was transformed into a vast filming facility. The first series was captured between 1 April and 1 November 2013, while the second series saw filming run from 17 March to 10 October 2014. The show was commissioned by Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama, and Danny Cohen, Controller of BBC One, with Bethan Jones serving as executive producer for BBC Cymru Wales. The creative team of Capps, Murphy, and Overman operated through their production company Urban Myth Films. The cast was formally announced on 27 March 2013, just weeks after the project was first revealed on 11 February. For the second series, the team expanded the ensemble, adding Vincent Regan as Dion and Amy Manson as Medea, while also bringing in guest stars such as Clive Standen from Vikings and Emmett J. Scanlan from Hollyoaks.

The Cast and Character Ensemble

The heart of Atlantis was its ensemble of characters, each bringing a distinct flavor to the mythological world. Jack Donnelly anchored the series as Jason, the modern outsider thrust into the ancient realm. Mark Addy brought gravitas to Hercules, the ex-prize fighter turned tavern regular, while Robert Emms played the endearingly hapless Pythagoras. The royal court was populated by Sarah Parish as the scheming Queen Pasiphae and Aiysha Hart as the heir Ariadne. Juliet Stevenson lent an otherworldly presence to the Oracle, a figure who seemed to have foreseen Jason's arrival from the start. Jemima Rooper appeared as Medusa, a palace maid who becomes a key ally, and Amy Manson joined in the second series as Medea. The second season also welcomed Vincent Regan as Dion, with Clive Standen and Emmett J. Scanlan making guest appearances. The soundtrack, composed by Stuart Hancock, was released in December 2015 on Silva Screen Records, featuring 30 tracks and 73 minutes of orchestral score that reviewers praised for its cinematic grandeur and vibrant energy.

Gallery