E4 orders parallel universe comedy drama pilot
E4 is to trial a new comedy drama about two men who find themselves transported to a parallel universe where they encounter different versions of themselves.
An hour long pilot episode of ALT is currently being filmed. The show has been devised by Jamie Mathieson, whose previous work includes sci-fi drama Being Human, an episode of Dirk Gently and the 2009 comedy film Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel.
ALT is described by E4 as "a mind-bending and hilarious tumble down a 21st century rabbit hole where the imaginary becomes real, where the unlikely becomes the inevitable and where the worst case scenario is actually only just the beginning."
The show follows the adventures of 24-year-old "pragmatic everyman" Danny, and his "stoner and waster ex-best friend" Milo. Suddenly finding themselves transported to a parallel universe where they encounter different versions of themselves, the pair soon realise there are dangerous assassins who seem intent on killing them. With Danny desperate to get back to his girlfriend Suzy before it's too late, the duo embark on a series of darkly comic and dangerous adventures in an effort to get back home.
E4 explains: "Imagine that mate you dumped months ago because he's a tool, rings you out of the blue and asks for help. You go round and he's tripping. Banging on about parallel worlds and killers with swords and you're not really listening to be honest. And the next thing you know the world's changed. Literally changed. Your girlfriend, who was kind of the love of your life, no longer even recognises you. Dead relatives are suddenly alive again. And someone who looks just like you is living your life. Badly."
ALT stars Gethin Anthony, best known as Renly Baratheon in Game of Thrones as the lead character, Danny, with Submarine star Craig Roberts as Milo.
The pilot also features Roxanne McKee (Doreah in Game of Thrones) as Suzy, with Jason Flemyng (Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels) and Arsher Ali (Four Lions) playing the assassins chasing Danny and Milo.
Commissioner Beth Willis says "ALT is a mind-bendingly funny pilot for E4 from the pen of Jamie Mathieson and directed by the brilliant Ben Caron. Milo and Danny are wonderful and useless and loveable. Expect the unexpected - and lots of laughs."
Damien Timmer, from production company Mammoth Screen, adds: "We're so pleased to bring Jamie's hugely inventive and hilarious world to life, and are lucky to have such an incredibly talented creative team and cast - all of whom have given us a bold new show full of fun, wit and adventure."
E4 recently saw the end of long-running sci-fi comedy drama Misfits, and thus this trial episode of ALT may be seen as a potential new format to continue the channel's sci-fi comedy credentials.