Channel 4 has revealed the cast of its multi-platform conspiracy drama thriller Utopia.

The six-part series, which is based on a graphic novel, will star Paul Higgins (The Thick of It), Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Misfits), Alexandra Roach (The Iron Lady) and Neil Maskell (Kill List). Other headlines include James Fox (Sherlock Holmes), Geraldine James (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) Simon McBurney (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), Fiona O’; Shaughnessy (Outcast), Adeel Akhtar (The Dictator), Oliver Woolford (Blackout) and Michael Smiley (Kill List).

The story centres on “a small group of previously unconnected people. When they find themselves in possession of an original manuscript of a fabled book, their lives suddenly and brutally implode. Targeted swiftly and relentlessly by a murderous organisation known as The Network they are left with only one option: they have to run. But how do you run, when your every move can be tracked?”

Utopia is written by Dennis Kelly, the co-creator of the Olivier Award winning Matilda, and was greenlit for Channel 4 by Chief Creative Officer Jay Hunt. Directed by Marc Munden (The Crimson Petal and the White), Utopia will be produced by Kudos Film & TV for Channel 4. The producer is Rebekah Wray-Rogers (This is England ‘;88) and executive producers are Karen Wilson (Hustle, Spooks), Jane Featherstone (Spooks, Life on Mars, The Hour) and Dennis Kelly (Pulling)

According to Channel 4, the drama will also incorporate a multi-platform experience created by TH_NK, the digital agency behind J.K. Rowling’;s Pottermore. The agency is set to work with the production team, Kudos and Dennis Kelly to build digital thinking into the production. “TH_NK is designing an experience that plays off the paranoia of the thriller, engaging viewers and encouraging debate around some of the drama’;s biggest themes. The experience will play out in the run up to TX and extend the experience across the episodes,” says Channel 4.

Full information on the productions mentioned above can be found on Production Intelligence, the online database of advance productions from The Knowledge: