MATTHEW MacFayden and Naomie Harris are reuniting for a brand new series of The Project more than two decades after the show ended.
The BBC drama The Project was a two-part special that aired in 2002.
The short-lived series follows the lives of a group of young Labour Party activists through their time together at university through their busy political careers.
Their journey begins at New Labour headquarters in Millbank before they find themselves behind-the-scenes at the heart of the government in Downing Street.
Though fictional, the series mirrored the rise of the Labour Party in the early 2000s.
But the story is told through the perspectives of Paul (Matthew Macfadyen) and Maggie (Naomie Harris), whose deep-rooted passion for politics is matched by their intense rivalry and passion for each other.
Working in the press office, it’s their job to expose the machinations behind the party’s transformation into the sharp, media-aware voice of professional, middle-England.
But as their respective stars begin to rise within New Labour, it’s not just their friendship that’s at risk but the very beliefs that inspired them to politics.
Paul joins the Labour Party as a press officer, then works his way through a series of behind-the-scenes jobs, first at Walworth Road, then at Millbank.
He then becomes a Special Adviser at No 10 following the 1997 election. He shares a house with journalist Irene (Paloma Baeza), carpenter Andy (Shaun Evans) and Maggie.
On moving to London, Maggie worked her way through a series of menial jobs for Labour before being elected as MP for her hometown in the 1997 election.
Speaking about the premise of the series in a BBC press release, director Peter Kosminsky explained: ‘’The Project is a fictional drama set within a factual framework, and provides an insight into New Labour’s political coup d’etat within the Labour Party, based on extensive research.’
‘’This film is about idealistic young people who want to help Labour get into power and ultimately, change things. It is a realistic portrayal of how we got to May 1, 1997 and what happened afterwards.
Since appearing in the drama, Matthew has gone on to have starring roles in popular series like Ripper Street and Succession, alongside a supporting role in the superhero blockbuster Deadpool and Wolverine.
Naomie has also found success on the big screen playing Moneypenny in the James Bond franchise and Paula in the critically acclaimed drama Moonlight.
After 22 years, the former co-stars are reuniting, reprising their roles as Paul and Maggie as The Project returns to the BBC.
The BBC is reopening case files on an all-star line-up of crime dramas this summer.
Here’s a refresher on the popular programmes which span six decades.
The upcoming drama will air in two parts consecutively on BBC Four on Sunday 15 September.
“It’s the first time The Project has been broadcast since 2002 or even seen. But it’s genuinely a piece that turns out to have extraordinarily relevant elements to the current situation,” Peter told the ipaper.
The Project premieres on Sunday 15 September at 10:20pm on BBC Four.
