It’s been three whole years since Happy Valley left our screens (sob!) and while star Siobhan Finneran has brought us some pretty good dramas since then, nothing has really come close to the beloved BBC crime drama… until now. The big bosses at Netflix have clearly heard our cries as they’re bringing us a fantastic new psychological thriller in the form of Unchosen, in which Siobhan is flexing her acting chops at the wife of a cult leader – and it’s coming to steal Happy Valley’s throne.
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to be part of a religious cult, you’ll find out in the upcoming series as Mr. Phillips (Christopher Eccleston) is the leader of one, Mrs. Phillips is his loyal wife, and Rosie (Molly Windsor) is the devoted mother who comes to the realisation that she might be better off out of it. But just how easy is it to escape a cult when you’re bound by its rules?
While we patiently wait for Unchosen to arrive on our screens, here’s everything you need to know about the new Netflix series, including the plot, cast and trailer.
What is Unchosen about?
The six-part series will take us into the murky world of a fictional religious cult – and one woman’s quest to escape it. The woman in question is Rosie (Molly Windsor), a devoted wife and mother who lives in a cloistered Christian community with her husband, Adam (Asa Butterfield), and their daughter. Rosie believes she’s happy, but the fateful arrival of escaped prisoner Sam (Fra Fee), is about to throw into relief the reality and restraints of Rosie’s world.
Netflix’s official synopsis continues: “As cracks begin to appear in Rosie and Adam’s marriage, Sam presents himself as Rosie’s saviour. But with his dark criminal past, where does the greatest danger lie - with the cult, or with Sam?”
From the looks of the newly released trailer (which you can watch below), plenty of evil exists within the closed community Rosie finds herself in. “Brothers and sisters, we are blessed to live our lives within this community, where love binds us and our families flourish, where our women nurture, and our men provide, safe from the temptations of the world outside and from the evil that lies within,” says religious leader Mr. Phillips (Christopher Eccleston). Just a little bit creepy, if you ask us…
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Who’s in the cast of Unchosen?
The cast of Unchosen includes:
- Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who, 28 Days Later) as Mr. Phillips
- Siobhan Finneran (pictured above in Happy Valley, Protection) as wife Mrs. Phillips
- Molly Windsor (Cheat, Three Girls) as Rosie
- Asa Butterfield (Sex Education, The Space Between Us) as Adam
- Fra Fee (Prime Target) as Sam
Is there a trailer for Unchosen?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for Unchosen below:
How can I watch Unchosen?
Netflix hasn’t yet shared a release date for Unchosen, but we do know that it will be released at some point in 2026. As soon as we have a confirmed date, we’ll share it here.
What other Siobhan Finneran dramas can I watch now?
If you haven’t yet seen Siobhan’s performance in A Confession, we’d highly recommend it. The series is based on the real-life case of Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher (played by Martin Freeman) who, in 2011, broke numerous police procedural rules to catch serial killer Christopher Halliwell. Siobhan plays the mother of Sian O’Callaghan (Florence Howard), one of Halliwell’s victims. You can watch A Confession now on ITVX. Another great crime drama is The Loch, which sees Siobhan stars alongside Laura Fraser as detective duo, Lauren and Annie, who find themselves hunting down a serial killer (not a real one, this time) - and it’s a nightmare neither of them want to be in. You can watch The Loch on Netflix.
