The last line of defence in a clandestine war, SHADO is all that stands between humanity and a force of alien invaders - and leading that fight is the uncompromising Ed Straker, commanding Earth's defenders around the clock.
But what happens when the man at the top is pushed too far? After an experiment goes wrong, Straker awakens from a coma with missing memories and strange hallucinations that threaten his grip on reality - but is it the result of alien interference, or has the commander's iron will finally cracked?
Facing danger from within and without, Straker must find the truth... even if it kills him.
UFO™ and © ITC Entertainment Group 1969 and 2024. Licensed by ITV Studios Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Recorded on: 2024
Recorded at: Remote recording
About the author:
James Swallow is an award-winning, BAFTA-nominated scriptwriter, and a New York Times, Sunday Times and Amazon #1 bestselling author of over 60 novels. He created the Marc Dane action thriller series and has written for franchises such as Star Trek, Doctor Who, Tom Clancy, Marvel and several high-profile video games. He lives and works in London. Find him online at jswallow.com
James Swallow said: "It’s been great fun working with the Anderson Entertainment team on this project – when I was a kid, I was fascinated by unidentified flying objects, so watching UFO back in its original run was compelling viewing! I’ve been able to tap back into that a little with Shadow Play, and create a new and exciting adventure that picks up where the TV show ends.
"I was inspired to emulate the tone of seventies action television and classic science fiction novels of that era, and my brief was to tell a story centred on Ed Straker, SHADO’s dogged, driven commander-in-chief. He’s one of my favourite characters from UFO, with all his complexity and drive, so pitting Straker against the ultimate threat to his sense of self was a challenge I relished."
Executive Producer and Narrator Nicholas Briggs said: "James Swallow has written a very authentic script which perfectly captures the flavour of the TV series whilst also exploring exciting new territory."
