Michaela Coel's Cosmic New Drama: 'First Day on Earth'

Michaela Coel is back, and this time she’s taking us on a journey titled First Day On Earth. Scheduled to begin filming next year, Coel isn’t just dipping her toes in; she’s diving headfirst as the writer, star, and executive producer of this ten-part series. And just when you thought her life couldn’t get more exciting, she’s teamed up with Phil Clarke and Roberto Troni from Various Artists Limited to dazzle us on the BBC, with a little help from her friends at HBO. Talk about a collaboration that could spin your head!

Now, if you haven’t heard about Terrifier 3, let’s just say it’s making quite the ruckus across the pond in France. Imagine a slasher flick so terrifying, it is the first film in nearly two decades to be slapped with an under-18 ban. That’s right! Damien Leone’s latest twist involving the ever-psychotic Art the Clown is expected to scare up tickets starting October 9, despite the French film classification committee’s rather draconian ruling that feels more at home in a bygone era, like 2006, when Saw 3 blazed the bloody trail.

And oh, those poor distributors—Factoris Films, Shadowz Films, and ESC Editions—are up in arms, feeling that this decision will “severely hamper” the release of a film that many a French viewer is keenly anticipating. In an impassioned joint statement, they lament, “We can only deplore this unexpected final decision,” as if they were mourning the loss of an old friend. Movies are a form of art, after all, and they defend its “grand-guignolistic and unrealistic” flair, arguing that the audience possesses enough maturity to comprehend the artistic intent. Because nothing says maturity like watching a clown wield a bloody weapon, right?

The distributors continue to champion the cause of cinema-lovers, even those pesky teenagers with their unquenchable thirst for horror. “These films may be inappropriate for minors, but they’re truly for cinephiles!” they exclaim, as if discussing a fine wine rather than a film that involves various ways to meet a gory end. Let’s not forget how Terrifier 2, which sported its own under-16’s ban, still managed to rack up over 70,000 tickets and gross more than $15 million worldwide. Apparently, scaring the pants off people is a lucrative business!

In this newest installment, the horror shifts delightfully from Halloween to the festive season of Christmas Eve. David Howard Thornton reprises his beloved role, while the cast welcomes Lauren LaVera, Margaret Anne Florence, and Samantha Scaffidi, making it clear that holiday cheer isn’t quite as safe as it seems. Terrifier 3 is set to open unrated on October 11 in North America, distributed by Cineverse and Bloody Disgusting, in what sounds like a delightful partnership for those who enjoy their holiday entertainment spiced with just a touch of carnage.

Meanwhile, back in the world of Coel, she’s reinventing the narrative in First Day On Earth about a UK novelist who makes her way to Ghana, her parents' homeland. Here’s a twist: she’s trying to reconnect with her estranged father and working on a film project that, wouldn’t you know it, doesn’t go as planned. Coel will be working with Various Artists Limited once more, after charming audiences previously with her 2020 drama I May Destroy You. In a delightful twist of fate, she’ll be joined by heavyweights Jesse Armstrong from Succession and the stellar producers from Various Artists.

So buckle up, folks! We’ve got slasher films battling for the hearts (and eyes) of viewers, and a touching story of familial love and estrangement, wrapped up with Coel’s unique flair. Who knew modern life could be this thrilling and hilariously complex? Only time—and perhaps a rear-view mirror for those chilly cinema seats—will tell!