'Britannia' Canceled as Production Team Gears Up to Make 'The Dirty Squad'

There is sad news on the British period pieces about Roman times front, as Sky announces Britannia has been canceled after three seasons. The news isn't that big of a surprise, as the show has struggled to find backers since its first season; the joint production between Sky UK and Amazon Prime Video failed to be the smash period piece drama hit the two production studios envisioned on streaming. Season 2 never made it to the U.S., Amazon dropped out, and Sky went it alone.

Season 3 was co-produced by MGM for its streaming service, Epix, which (lol) was then bought out by Amazon. Though the now-rechristened MGM+ kept some of Epix's period dramas, including reviving Belgravia, rescuing A Spy Among Friends, retooling Domina, and renewing Rogue Heroes. However, apparently, the parent company is still passing on Britannia. In response, Sky is shuttering the series. Considering the series hasn't released a new episode since 2021, it seems the most sensible option.

However, David Morrissey (who co-produced and starred in Britannia) is not out of the period piece game. On the heels of Britannia's official cancelation comes word Morrissey and co-producer Tom Butterworth are partnering with Vertigo Films to create a new series, The Dirty Squad. According to the press release obtained by Deadline, "Much like Britannia, The Dirty Squad irreverently focuses on a period of dramatic change in the UK, this time uncovering one of the biggest corruption stories that the UK has ever known while tapping into every element of British society and establishment and examining how they got away with it." 

Here's the logline for the upcoming 1970s-set series:

While London was swinging, the Met Police was busy becoming the biggest criminal gang in the country, turning new freedoms of the times into hard cash through bribes, extortion and theft and, as law enforcers, they made themselves ruthlessly untouchable. In response, the newly-appointed Met Police Commissioner Sir Robert Mark sets up the first police anti-corruption unit dubbed A10. 

Like Britannia, Morrissey (best known for The Walking Dead) will once again headline the series in the lead role, with Butterworth (Gangs of London) acting as showrunner and writer of all the seasons' scripts, from an idea of Morrissey's. The series does not yet have directors or co-stars attached. Nor, for the record, does it have a network on either side of the pond as yet, which means that come auction time at MIPcom 2023, fans should be on the lookout for the series to land a home.

The Dirty Squad is expected to start filming later this year.