Netflix Sets January Premiere For Mockumentary Special ‘Cunk On Life’
British actress and comedian Diane Morgan is returning to Netflix in January with Cunk on Life, a new one-off special centered on her comedic documentarian character, Philomena Cunk.
Set to premiere outside of the UK and Ireland on January 2, the special sees Cunk return with her most ambitious quest to date; venturing right up the universe and everything, to examine life itself.
More from Deadline
“What’s the point of it all?” is a question humans have been asking themselves since the dawn of time. But as we cling to our dying planet, working round the clock while we’re slowly being replaced by machines, now more than ever, people are desperately looking to make sense of their lives — before someone invents a computer that makes sense of it for them.
Cunk on Life will see Philomena tackle some of the most complex concepts to have ever been discovered, including Quantum Physics, Existentialism, Nihilism, Hedonism – and at least four other isms – as well as exploring subjects from the big bang to biology, morals to meditation and art to artificial intelligence. In her search for answers, she’ll also examine some of history’s foremost thinkers and groundbreaking creatives, from Dostoyevsky to Van Gogh, from Nietzsche to whoever came up with those signs in kitchens that say, ‘Live Laugh Love.’ Along the way, she’ll be meeting leading experts and academics and not letting them leave until she’s got to the bottom of such questions as: what is life, why are we bothering to find out, and when’s lunch.
Morgan first introduced Cunk, a journalist and documentary host bringing a deadpan approach and absurdly incorrect observations to serious topics, as part of Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe, a British series in which the Black Mirror creator delivered his comedic takes on the week’s news. On that program, she presented “Moments of Wonder” segments, tackling topics like time, philosophy, and art in her uniquely clueless style. Morgan later went on to BAFTA nominations for Cunk on Shakespeare, as well as Cunk on Earth, which Netflix released in the U.S.
A Broke and Bones production for BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, Cunk on Life was created and written by Brooker, with additional writing from Morgan, Ben Caudell, Erika Ehler, Charlie George, Eli Goldstone, Jason Hazeley, Lucia Keskin, Joel Morris, and Michael Odewale. Al Campbell directed, with Susie Hall producing alongside EPs Brooker, Annabel Jones, Ali Marlow, and Ben Cavey.
Also soon to be heard voicing a role in Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, which Netflix releases in the U.S. on January 3, Morgan is represented by United Agents in the UK. Brooker is repped by 42.
Best of Deadline
Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Solve the daily Crossword
