Thandiwe Newton and Ncuti Gatwa Join Cast of Michaela Coel’s New HBO/BBC Drama “First Day on Earth”
The series follows Henri (Coel), a British-Ghanaian novelist who finds herself “on the run” from her life, her partner, and the pressures of her career.
RMN Stars TV Desk
New Delhi | February 17, 2026
LOS ANGELES/LONDON – HBO and the BBC have announced high-profile additions to the cast of the upcoming original drama series First Day on Earth, created by and starring multi-award winner Michaela Coel. Joining the production are Thandiwe Newton (God’s Country) as Anya, Maxine Peake (Say Nothing) as Helen, Danny Sapani (Halo) as Ernest, and Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa as Darren.
Filming is currently underway on the 10-episode series, which marks Coel’s latest television project following the critical success of I May Destroy You and Chewing Gum.
The series follows Henri (Coel), a British-Ghanaian novelist who finds herself “on the run” from her life, her partner, and the pressures of her career. Her journey leads her to Ghana, her ancestral homeland, where she is submerged in a world of new friends and fresh joy. However, the transition also unearths a web of secrets, lies, and denial, forcing Henri to question her heritage, her family, and herself.
First Day on Earth is a Various Artists Limited production, co-produced by HBO and the BBC in association with A24. The series is written by Coel, who also serves as an executive producer and director alongside Sam Miller. Other executive producers include Jesse Armstrong, Phil Clarke, Roberto Troni, and Jo McClellan. Johann Knobel is attached to produce.
As of February 2026, the production has not yet announced a formal premiere date.
