Slumdog Millionaire actress to lead drama about love and politics

Critically-acclaimed actress Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) has joined the cast of Showtime and Sky Atlantic’s new six-part series Guerrilla in the lead role.

Written, directed and executive produced by John Ridley (American Crime), Guerrilla is a love story set against the backdrop of one of the most politically explosive times in U.K. history. It tells the story of a politically active couple, Jas Mitra (played by Pinto) and Marcus (casting to be revealed soon), whose relationship and values are tested when they liberate a political prisoner and form a radical underground cell in 1970s London. Their ultimate target becomes the Black Power Desk, a true-life, secretive counter-intelligence unit within Special Branch dedicated to crushing all forms of black activism. Whilst the series is set against a background of social and political activism, at its heart Guerrilla is about a relationship under pressure, and the reality that for any couple there comes a point when the choices they make have real and lasting consequences.

Idris Elba (Luther, Beasts of No Nation) will co-star and also serve as an executive producer through his Green Door Pictures. .

Freida Pinto, commented: “I’m thrilled to be working with an artist like John Ridley who has written these compelling scripts filled with thoughtful and complicated characters.”

Guerrilla is a co-production between Fifty Fathoms and ABC Signature. Production is set to begin in London late summer 2016 for broadcast in 2017.