The Third Day

UK & USA
2020

An enthralling, mesmerising experiment between TV and theatre… truly, insanely, watchable

The Observer

By some distance the most innovative drama of the year… A mesmerising, dark and deeply immersive televisual experience

The List

Close to theatre as TV can get… It’s all strange fragmented and beguiling and in its way oddly compelling

The Times

The Third Day was created by Dennis Kelly and Felix Barrett and premiered on Sky Atlantic, NOW and HBO in 2020. 

This ground-breaking psychological thriller starring Jude Law and Naomie Harris explored the mysteries and rituals of a remote British island across three standalone but interconnected stories:

Summer, written by Dennis Kelly and directed by Marc Munden (Utopia), sees Sam (Jude Law) drawn to an isolated island off the British coast. As the secretive movements of its inhabitants force him to grapple with experiences of loss and trauma hidden in his past, the boundary between fantasy and reality fragments.

Autumn intersected the tv series – originally broadcast direct from the island in one continuous take, viewers could follow one sacred day on the island as it unfolded in real-time over 12 hours. Directed by Felix Barrett and Marc Munden, it featured members of The Third Day cast alongside a guest appearance from Florence Welch.

Winter, written by Kit de Waal, Dean O’Loughlin, Dennis Kelly and directed by Philippa Lowthorpe, follows Helen (Naomie Harris) as she arrives on the island with her family in tow. A headstrong outsider, she must be careful not to get caught between the island’s splintering forces.

The Third Day cast includes Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes), Naomie Harris (Moonlight), Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts), Paddy Considine (The Suspicions of Mr Whicher) and Emily Watson (Chernobyl).

The series is a co-production between Sky and HBO. It is the first original drama to be produced in house by Sky Studios, Sky’s new Europe wide production arm, in partnership with Plan B Entertainment, Punchdrunk and writer Dennis Kelly. All six episodes are produced by Adrian Sturges.

Watch The Third Day:

Jude Law

Naomie Harris

Katherine Waterston

Paddy Considine

Emily Watson