Paramount+ orders kidnapping drama Baby Doll

Clapperboard, the creators of Paramount+ UK series The Serial Killer’s Wife and The Castaways, have landed their debut international commission with thriller Baby Doll (w/t).  

The drama, about how a kidnapping victim attempts to rebuild her life while faced with the terrifying reality that her captor is still out there, stars Alfie Allen and Jill Halfpenny alongside Tallulah Evans and Delphi Evans.  

The series is the first global Paramount+ collaboration for Clapperboard, and is based on the novel by Hollie Overton. It follows twin sisters Lily and Abby (Evans and Evans), whose lives are shattered when Lily is abducted by a local teacher Rick Hansen (Allen). After years of abuse she escapes, only to discover freedom has its own challenges.  

Also joining the cast are Vikash Bhai, Niamh Walsh, Levi Brown, Victoria Ekanoye, Holly Atkins and Kiran Kirshnakumar.  

Baby Doll is being adapted for screen by David Turpin and Nessah Muthy who also worked on Clapperboard drama The Ex Wife on 5, alongside Suzanne Cowie who worked on The Serial Killer’s Wife (Paramount+).   

Mike Benson and Suzi McIntosh serve as the executive producers for Clapperboard, with Mick Pantaleo producing. Laura Way and Bindu de Stoppani are the directors.  

It was ordered by deputy chief content officer for Paramount UK Sebastian Cardwell and commissioning editor Paul Testar, with Cardwell calling the series “the kind of thrilling, emotionally rich storytelling we’re proud to champion on Paramount+ UK & Ireland”. 

Executive producer McIntosh added that the series is “dark psychological storytelling full of twists and turns keeps us on the edge of our seats throughout”.  

He said: “This is Clapperboard’s first global Paramount+ collaboration and we could not be more excited.” 

The series will be available exclusively on Paramount+ UK & Ireland as well as all other Paramount+ international territories. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.