It came as a welcome surprise when it was announced that Netflix will be making new episodes of Black Mirror, the British anthology series reminiscent of The Twilight Zone. While not always consistent, each episode proved to be thought-provoking and well worth a watch, resulting in a highly-acclaimed series. Similar to the first season of the sci-fi series, the 12 new episodes will continue the format where each episode revolves around a different story and characters while commenting on people’s relationship to technology and how it alters their relationship with one another. The Netflix series has been quietly coming together, but now we have learned more of what to expect from one particular episode.

According to The Wrap, filming is currently taking place overseas on the new episodes, overseen by executive producers  Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, which is rather reassuring as Booker and Jones produced the original series.


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Image via Fox Searchlight

Not only do they have the original producers back, but they also enlisted the help of a former director of the original. Owen Harris (Kill Your Friends) helmed the Domhnall Gleeson and Hayley Atwell-starring episode “Be Right Back” for the show’s second season. Harris’ new episode will feature actresses Mackenzie Davis (The Martian) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Concussion). Both actresses have had breakout moments as of late, with Davis turning in some good work in Halt and Catch Fire and Mbatha-Raw breaking out with Belle and Beyond the Lights and soon to be appearing in The Free State of Jones and the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast. The Wrap even mentions that Mbatha-Raw is “widely expected to be joining Star Wars: Episode VIII,” corroborating the casting news that we at Collider broke previously. After Gleeson and now Mbatha-Raw, it appears Black Mirror is a good launching pad for a Star Wars career.

The involvement of all of these people is very exciting. The fact that they are bringing back the creative team of the original series bodes well. As does their choice in actors. It is interesting to note that the article mentions they are filming overseas, along with the fact that Mbatha-Raw is British. Perhaps they will continue to set the show in England as the original series was. Or perhaps they plan to jump around the world and tell different stories set in different places beyond just one country. Regardless, it seems like fans of Black Mirror can rest assured that with its Netflix continuation, we’ll get more of the same great work.

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Image via Focus Features