On December 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was on its way from Heathrow to JFK when a bomb exploded in its hold over the small Scottish town of Lockerbie, claiming the lives of 270 people, including 43 British citizens and 190 Americans. This tragic incident marked the worst-ever terror attack on British soil and the first major one on US citizens.
The drama will be a 6-episode series, with acclaimed novelist and screenwriter Jonathan Lee as the lead writer, and Scottish screenwriter Gillian Roger Park contributing two episodes. The production is undertaken by World Productions, in association with MGM Television, and will air on BBC One and iPlayer before being released on Netflix both in the UK and worldwide. Julia Stannard will produce the series, and Michael Keillor will direct.
“Lockerbie” will delve into the investigation of the crash on both sides of the Atlantic and its devastating impact on the small town and the families who lost loved ones. The drama will take the viewers through the exhaustive search for evidence in Scotland, the US, and Malta, up to the trial at Camp Zeist in 2000 and the most recent indictment in late 2022.
Filmmaker Adam Morane-Griffiths, who initiated the project, conducted extensive research, including interviews with Scottish police officers and representatives from US investigative agencies, many of whom have never shared their stories before.
Filming for “Lockerbie” is scheduled to take place later this year in Scotland, Malta, and Toronto.
Writer Jonathan Lee expressed his privilege to bring this defining event in world history to the screen, honouring the resilience and courage displayed during that time. Simon Heath, CEO of World Productions, conveyed their honour in being entrusted with such an extraordinary and epoch-defining story. Executive Producer Adam Morane-Griffiths expressed his excitement to work with the incredible partners in bringing the story to life.
The tragic events of that night in Scotland continue to have a lasting impact, particularly on the Lockerbie community. The BBC’s Commissioning Editor, Gaynor Holmes, stated that the series will be handled with the utmost care to reflect the devastating events, the complex investigation, and the profound effect on those who lost loved ones.
Netflix’s Mona Qureshi praised the project’s epic and intimate approach, capturing the global and personal aspects of the event. The series will shed light on the reverberating effects of the Lockerbie bombing, resonating through the decades, and will be available to audiences in the UK and across the world.
