HIT anthology series Black Mirror returns to Netflix today for its sixth run of off-kilter standalone tales.
The new series is being touted as "the most unpredictable, unclassifiable and unexpected yet" and Netflix have just revealed more details about the five new episodes which are available to watch right now.
Here's what we know so far, followed by some words from writer/creator Charlie Brooker on what he was trying to achieve this time around.
JOAN IS AWFUL
An average woman is stunned to discover a global streaming platform has launched a prestige TV drama adaptation of her life - in which she is portrayed by Hollywood star Salma Hayek Pinault.
Cast: Annie Murphy, Ben Barnes, Himesh Patel, Michael Cera, Rob Delaney, Salma Hayek Pinault
Director: Ally Pankiw
Written by: Charlie Brooker
LOCH HENRY
A young couple travel to a sleepy Scottish town to start work on a genteel nature documentary - but find themselves drawn to a juicy local story involving shocking events of the past.
Cast: Daniel Portman, John Hannah, Monica Dolan, Myha’la Herrold, Samuel Blenkin
Director: Sam Miller
Written by: Charlie Brooker
BEYOND THE SEA
In an alternative 1969, two men on a perilous high-tech mission wrestle with the consequences of an unimaginable tragedy.
Cast: Aaron Paul, Auden Thornton, Josh Hartnett, Kate Mara, Rory Culkin
Director: John Crowley
Written by: Charlie Brooker
MAZEY DAY
A troubled starlet is dogged by invasive paparazzi while dealing with the consequences of a hit-and-run incident.
Cast: Clara Rugaard, Danny Ramirez, Zazie Beetz
Director: Uta Briesewitz
Written by: Charlie Brooker
DEMON 79
Northern England, 1979. A meek sales assistant is told she must commit terrible acts to prevent disaster.
Cast: Anjana Vasan, Paapa Essiedu
Director: Toby Haynes
Written by: Charlie Brooker & Bisha K Ali
There’s always been an element of the unexpected baked into the dark, satirical anthology - but with series six, creator Charlie Brooker says that he even surprised himself.
“I’ve always felt that Black Mirror should feature stories that are entirely distinct from one another, and keep surprising people — and myself — or else what’s the point? It should be a series that can’t be easily defined, and can keep reinventing itself,” the writer, creator and executive producer says.
"So that’s exactly what he did. Not every episode of the new season will be exactly what you’re expecting — but that’s the whole point.
“Partly as a challenge, and partly to keep things fresh for both me and the viewer, I began this season by deliberately upending some of my own core assumptions about what to expect,” he says.
“Consequently, this time, alongside some of the more familiar Black Mirror tropes we’ve also got a few new elements, including some I’ve previously sworn blind the show would never do, to stretch the parameters of what ‘a Black Mirror episode’ even is.
"The stories are all still tonally Black Mirror through-and-through — but with some crazy swings and more variety than ever before.
Brooker continues: "In some ways, this season starts very 'traditional 'Black Mirror and gets weirder as the series goes along. There are episodes this season that I am intrigued to see how the audience reacts to, because we have done things that we have never done before.
"I also believe that all five episodes have some of the strongest endings we have ever done. I hope people don’t spoil too many details because Black Mirror always works best when viewers go in completely blind. If you go in blind, you’ll be surprised.
Brooker is also effusive about the talent he worked with on the latest series.
“Bringing it all to life we’ve got an incredible roster of disgustingly skillful, smart directors working with a cast of actors so talented they frankly have no right to exist,” Brooker says.
“I can’t wait for people to binge their way through it all and hope they enjoy it — especially the bits they shouldn’t.”
Black Mirror series six is available now, sign up at Netflix.co.uk
