The BBC is set to bring a fresh dystopian LGBTQ drama to audiences with The Dream Lands, an adaptation of Rosa Rankin-Gee’s sci-fi novel Dreamland. The six-part series, created by BAFTA-winning screenwriter Kayleigh Llewellyn, is poised to deliver a powerful narrative about love, survival, and defiance against the backdrop of a collapsing world. At its center is Chance, a young woman navigating personal and political turmoil in a near-future Margate, a setting shaped by deep social inequalities.
With Sex Education’s Connor Swindells joining the cast as Kole and Bridgerton’s Golda Rosheuvel, a celebrated queer actress, taking on the role of Iona, the series is making a clear statement about representation. The inclusion of LGBTQ+ talent, both in front of and behind the camera, underscores a growing commitment to authentic storytelling within mainstream television. The show’s themes of queer identity, resilience, and chosen family will likely resonate deeply, particularly in an era where LGBTQ+ rights remain under threat in many parts of the world.
The Dream Lands is not just another sci-fi drama—it is a testament to the power of queer narratives in reshaping genre television. BBC Drama director Lindsay Salt expressed excitement over the casting, highlighting the balance between emerging talent and established names. “Kayleigh’s heartfelt and captivating scripts have attracted a cast of such outstanding calibre,” Salt remarked, emphasizing the story’s emotional depth and social urgency.
This move by the BBC to develop explicitly LGBTQ-centered dystopian storytelling follows a larger trend of mainstream networks investing in queer narratives beyond token representation. In an industry that still often sidelines LGBTQ+ voices, The Dream Lands represents a necessary and ambitious shift. With no official release date yet, anticipation is high for what could be a groundbreaking series that blends activism, romance, and high-stakes drama in one gripping package.