Masterpiece Scoops Up Channel 4's 'Alice & Jack' for Spring 2024

As mentioned in our roundup of British-produced films coming to the Toronto International Film Festival, the Channel 4-produced series Alice & Jack would be part of the titles headlining the festival's “Primetime” section. A relatively recent addition to TIFF, this showcase of prestige TV series includes award contenders like Netflix’s All The Light We Cannot See and the Amazon Prime Video Nicole Kidman-starrer Expats. Alice & Jack was notable for not having an announced American distributor; however, that was rectified with Masterpiece announcing less than 24 hours ahead of the premiere it would be boarding the show.

Created and written by Golden Globe and Cannes Bronze Lion winner Victor Levin (Mad Men), Alice & Jack has a pedigreed cast. American Andrea Riseborough (The Witness for the Prosecution), an Oscar nominee who is more likely than not to be cast in British films, plays Alice, with Domhnall Gleeson (son of Brendan Gleeson) as Jack, in this contemporary set love story. Both stars are also producers on the project, along with Levin and lead director Juho Kuosmanen (Compartment 6).

When the series was announced for TIFF, Gleeson said in the press release, “The only work I’ve wanted to watch and do since the pandemic is work about connection and love and work with a sense of humor. Alice and Jack keep coming back to each other because they can’t help themselves — they find in each other something that they don’t have on their own.” Masterpiece’s executive producer, Susanne Simpson, adds, “We’re thrilled to come on board with Alice & Jack. This is an exceptionally beautiful and profound series that we are proud to add to our lineup, and I’m looking forward to sharing it with the U.S. audience in Spring 2024.”

Here’s the series official synopsis via TIFF:

When Alice and Jack first meet, they’re bound by a connection so powerful it seems nothing can break it, but will their path lead them to a place of happiness and togetherness? Or will life and their own emotional complexities get in the way? Honest, intimate, and surprisingly funny, the series shows love in all its unexpected, technicolor, kaleidoscopic beauty.

Gleeson and Riseborough are joined by co-stars Aisling Bea (Doctor Who), Aimee Lou Wood (Sex Education), and Sunil Patel (Stath Lets Flats). Director Hong Khaou (Lilting) directed along with Kuosmanen. Alice & Jack is an independent UK production from Channel 4 and Fremantle, with Rebecca Dundon and Hilary Martin executive producing. Tracy O’Riordan produces for Me + You Productions, with Richard Yee and Krishnendu Majumdar executive producing along with Michael London and Shannon Gaulding for Groundswell Productions; Lorenzo De Maio for De Maio Entertainment, plus Simpson for Masterpiece.

PBS has not confirmed as yet if the “Spring 2024” announcement for Alice & Jack means it will premiere in mid-March alongside Nolly or if it will take the Tom Jones berth directly following and air at the end of April 2024.