New WORLD order

Demi Moore, Jessica Brown Findlay and Harry Lloyd star in a fresh take on Aldous Huxley’s famous dystopian novel

- CAREN CLARK

In 1932, when Aldous Huxley published his novel Brave New World, the idea of a future ruled by technology and where emotions are taboo offered a disturbing vision. Now, those same issues are set to chill us all over again in Sky One’s powerful nine-part adaptation of the iconic book.

The series is set in the city of New London, a seemingly peaceful society where sexual freedom is encouraged, but loving, monogamous relationships are strictly forbidden. Meanwhile, every citizen is graded into a particular class and moods are controlled by pills called soma.

Lab worker Lenina Crowne (Downton Abbey and Harlots’ Jessica Brown Findlay) is from the middle-ranking Beta class, but a connection soon develops between her and counsellor Bernard Marx (Game of Thrones’ Harry Lloyd), a superior Alpha, as they both start to question life in New London.

The pair’s eyes are opened when they visit the dangerous, poverty-stricken Savage Lands, where an underclass live without the same restrictions, and which has been turned into a theme park for New Londoners to marvel at.

Among those living in the Savage Lands are troubled John (Alden Ehrenreich) and his mother Linda, played by Hollywood star Demi Moore. But when John returns with Lenina and Bernard to New London, there are shocking consequences…

We caught up with Lloyd, 36, and Brown Findlay, 31, to find out more...

How would you describe the setting of New London?

Lloyd There is no family, no privacy, no monogamy, but everyone is very ‘happy’. However, with the introduction of John, this society is tested by real emotions.