The one-two punch of Stephen Graham and Erin Doherty in A Thousand Blows and Adolescence has been a small triumph here in the States, with the latter hitting record viewership in the U.K. and made available to all middle schools to stream for free by the Prime Minister. Should it be commissioned, A Thousand Blows already has a second season planned. However, like Boiling Point before it, Adolescence was envisioned as a limited stand-alone four-episode, close-ended series. Graham has gamely made the proper noises about the possibility of a Season 2. Still, the chances of seeing a "spiritual" successor are far better, like the next series from the production studio, Threads.

For those under the age of 40, Threads does not refer to the failing Twitter competitor launched by another idiot billionaire; it was a TV movie initially released by the BBC in 1984. Viewed in America as "the U.K.'s answer to The Day After," Threads followed the stories of two Sheffield families living through a nuclear bomb being dropped on London and showing in graphic, accurate detail, the medical, economic, social, and environmental consequences of a nuclear war. Warp Films, which produced the Graham-Philip Barantini series, is Sheffield-based, and the subject's topicality only grows more significant by the day.

The series is not contracted to Netflix; Warp Films is making the series on spec, assuming that the original fame in the U.K. will be enough to garner interest from U.K. and U.S. distributors.

Warp CEO Mark Herbert said: 

“Threads was, and remains, an unflinchingly honest drama that imagines the devastating effects of nuclear conflict on ordinary people. This story aligns perfectly with our ethos of telling powerful, grounded narratives that deeply connect with audiences. Reimagining this classic film as a TV drama gives us a unique opportunity to explore its modern relevance.” 

No cast has been announced; writers and directors are expected to be announced in due course. The original was written by the late Barry Hines and directed by Mick Jackson, best known for his 1992 hit The Bodyguard, starring Kevin Costner and the late Whitney Houston. Herbert and Warp COO Emily Feller executive produce.

"Threads is clearly a deeply impactful story, and right now, it feels more relevant than ever," Feller said in the press release. "This adaptation will allow us to uncover fresh interpretations in light of today’s world.  We imagine highlighting how resilience and connection can offer hope even in the most challenging of times. Through this lens, an adaptation of the incredible film can reexamine its significance for then and for now — allowing us to engage with a modern audience.”

The original Threads is streaming on AMC+. The new version will probably get started in production before the end of the year and arrive in late 2026 or early 2027.