The Dream Lands

Lore & Background

The Dream Lands was commissioned in February 2024 as an adaptation of Rosa Rankin-Gee's novel The Dreamland. The series is adapted by Kayleigh Llewellyn and produced by Sister for BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Executive producers include Llewellyn, Naomi de Pear, Holly Pullinger, Lucy Forbes, author Rosa Rankin-Gee, and Rebecca Ferguson. In February 2025, Universal International Studios joined as co-producer with Sister.

Reader's Guide

The Dream Lands represents a significant television adaptation of a contemporary novel, bringing Rosa Rankin-Gee's story to a broad audience via BBC One. The series features a notable cast including Pascale Kann in the lead role of Chance, alongside established actors such as Anna Friel, Connor Swindells, Clara Rugaard, and Katherine Parkinson. Filming took place in Margate, Kent, as well as Bristol and Weston-super-Mare, grounding the production in specific coastal locations. As an upcoming drama, its significance will be determined upon release, but its commissioning and co-production by Sister and Universal International Studios indicate a substantial investment in the project.

Did You Know?

• The series is based on the book Dreamland by Rosa Rankin-Gee.
• Pascale Kann was confirmed as Chance in February 2025.
• Filming took place in Margate, Kent, Bristol, and Weston-super-Mare.

From Page to Screen – The Source Novel

The Dream Lands originates from Rosa Rankin-Gee's novel titled The Dreamland, which serves as the narrative foundation for this upcoming British drama. The adaptation was handled by Kayleigh Llewellyn, who also serves as an executive producer on the project. What makes this adaptation particularly notable is that Rankin-Gee herself remains involved in the production as an executive producer, ensuring the spirit of her original work carries through to the screen. The series is set to air on BBC One and will also be available through BBC iPlayer, giving it a broad domestic audience. The project was formally commissioned in February 2024, marking the official green-light for what would become a full television adaptation. Llewellyn's dual role as both the screenwriter adapting the material and an executive producer suggests a deeply personal investment in translating Rankin-Gee's story into a serialized format. The involvement of the original author in the production team is a detail that fans of the book will likely find reassuring, as it signals a collaborative rather than purely transactional approach to the adaptation process.

The Ensemble Cast

At the heart of The Dream Lands is Pascale Kann, confirmed in February 2025 for the lead role of Chance. She is joined by a distinguished supporting ensemble that includes Anna Friel as Jas, Connor Swindells as Kole, Clara Rugaard as Franky, and Katherine Parkinson as Antonia. Golda Rosheuvel rounds out the principal cast in the role of Iona. Beyond these named leads, the series features a broader group of performers including Jacob Greenway, Tareq Al-Jeddal, Scarlett Rayner, Ruby Bridle, and Raphael Sowole, suggesting a richly populated world of characters. The casting choices span a range of well-known British actors, from Parkinson's long association with comedy and drama to Friel's acclaimed dramatic work, alongside younger talents like Swindells and Rugaard. Kann's confirmation came alongside the broader cast announcement in early 2025, indicating the production was in an advanced stage of assembly. The diversity of the ensemble, drawn from different generations and acting traditions, hints at a story with multiple interwoven perspectives and relationships at its core.

Production & Industry Partnerships

The Dream Lands is a production of Sister, the studio behind the series, working in partnership with BBC One and BBC iPlayer for distribution. The project received its formal commission in February 2024, setting the wheels in motion for what would become a year-and-a-half production journey. The executive production team is notably extensive, comprising Kayleigh Llewellyn, Naomi de Pear, Holly Pullinger, Lucy Forbes, author Rosa Rankin-Gee, and Rebecca Ferguson, reflecting the collaborative and multi-layered nature of the project's development. A significant industry development came in February 2025 when Universal International Studios joined as a co-producer alongside Sister, a move that likely signals ambitions beyond the initial domestic broadcast window. This partnership with a major international studio suggests the producers are positioning the series for potential wider distribution and international reach. The presence of multiple executive producers, including the source author, indicates a production structure designed to protect the integrity of the material while also navigating the commercial and logistical demands of a premium television drama.

Filming Across the British Coast

The physical landscape of The Dream Lands was captured across several distinct English locations during a filming period spanning late 2024 into early 2025. The primary shooting base was Margate, a coastal town in Kent known for its distinctive architecture and seaside character, which likely provides the series with a strong visual identity rooted in the English coast. The production also extended to Bristol during the latter part of 2024, adding an urban and industrial dimension to the visual palette. In early 2025, the crew moved to Weston-super-Mare, another well-known seaside resort, further reinforcing the coastal and regional setting of the narrative. This multi-location approach, spanning three separate areas over several months, suggests a story that is geographically grounded and that benefits from the specific textures of English towns and their surrounding environments. The timing of the shoot, stretching from autumn 2024 through the early months of 2025, aligns with the broader production timeline that began with the February 2024 commission and the February 2025 cast confirmations.

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