The Homunculi spirits are set to commune once more.

The BBC has renewed Small Prophets for a second season after the comedy became a breakout hit for the British broadcaster, drawing up to 9.2 million viewers. Apple TV acquired worldwide rights to Season 1 last month.

Created by Mackenzie Crook, star of the UK version of The Office, the show will be promoted from BBC One to BBC Two for Season 2, which will premiere in 2027.

The series stars Pearce Quigley as Manchester resident Michael Sleep, who is still adjusting to life without his partner, Clea, who mysteriously disappeared seven years earlier.

While working in a DIY store, he hatches a plan with his father, Brian (Michael Palin), to create some Homunculi, magical prophesying spirits, in his garden shed.

Along the way, Michael develops an unlikely friendship with Kacey (Lauren Patel), while navigating the demands of his boss Gordon (Crook) and the watchful eyes of nosy neighbours Bev (Sophie Willan) and Clive (Jon Pointing).

Emma Lawson, BBC interim director of comedy, said: “Mackenzie has created a world packed with wonder, magic and unforgettable characters which feels completely unlike anything else on television and we can’t wait to see where the story takes us next.”

Small Prophets is a Treasure Trove Productions and Channel X North production. It is written, created and directed by Crook. The executive producers are Crook and Lisa Thomas for Treasure Trove, and Alan Marke and Jim Reid for Channel X North. Gill Isles is the producer. Sphere Abacus is the international distributor.

Crook said: “The prophets have foretold that series two will be happening next year and, as we know, they are compelled to speak the truth.”

EXCLUSIVE: Prime Video has gotten the YA gang together, with a campus-style retreat in the Bavarian alps. Off Campus, Boys of Tommen, Love Me Love Me 2, Maxton Hall and Our Fault: London were to the fore in Germany, and we’ve got this year’s class photo (above), showing many of those in attendance.

There were also new pics issued from several of the upcoming series, see below for the visuals.

Germany was a fitting location for the gathering, which Prime Video dubbed the Obsessed Retreat, given it is the home of Maxton Hall – The World Between Us, which is soon to enter its third and final season. Filmed in Germany, the show is set in England.

The two-day retreat runs September 7-8 with screenings of Love Hypothesis, Maxton Hall – The World Between Us, Drawn Together, You+Me – Against the World, Drive – The Pretenders, and Perfect Liars. It follows a similar event in Ibiza last year and the Obsessed Fest in LA in June.

There was the first pic from Boys of Tommen featuring Nancy Surridge as Shannon Lynch and Conor Sánchez as Johnny Kavanagh in the adaptation of the Chloe Walsh novel.

There were two pics from the show.

Other first-look pics included new imagery from Our Fault: London. It is the final instalment of the English-language adaptation of Mercedes Ron’s Culpables trilogy.

There was also art from Love Me Love Me 2 out of Italy. It is based on the novel and Wattpad hit by Stefania S.

“What excites me most about this next wave is that it’s being led by non-English language International Originals,” said Nicole Clemens, VP and Head of International Originals, Amazon MGM Studios.

“These are stories rooted in local culture with universal appeal, and we believe they’ll break out globally in the same way. The slate represents our biggest commitment yet to young adult audiences — and we’re just getting started.”

EXCLUSIVE: Blue Eyes Film & Distribution has acquired worldwide sales rights to A Time In Eternity, the latest feature from writer, director, and producer Mehdi Norowzian, starring Leila Hatami (A Separation). The company will introduce the project to international buyers at the TIFF Market. 

Set in contemporary Tehran, A Time In Eternity follows Maryam, a woman whose search for her missing husband becomes an “increasingly haunting journey of truth, faith and self-discovery. Blending emotional suspense with psychological mystery, the film explores how love, hope and resilience endure in the face of oppression,” the official synopsis reads. 

The ensemble cast also includes Babak Hamidian (The Old Bachelor) as Saeed, Navid Pourfaraj (Zalava, Highway Deer) as Vahid, Taranom Kermanian (Suddenly a Tree) as Sayeh, and Abbas Ghazali (Abestan, Dela, Gonjeshk), who now lives in exile and is beginning to direct his own documentaries.

“A Time In Eternity is a deeply personal story about loss, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit,” Norowzian said in a statement. “Although rooted in contemporary Iran, its themes are universal. I’m thrilled to be partnering with Michael at Blue Eyes Film, whose passion and commitment to championing distinctive international cinema made them the perfect home for the film’s worldwide release.”

Norowzian is best known for the Oscar-nominated short film Killing Joe, before directing the feature Leo, starring Joseph Fiennes, Elisabeth Shue, Dennis Hopper and Sam Shepard. 

Michael Cowan, Blue Eyes Film & Distribution, added: “We are delighted to be representing A Time In Eternity worldwide. Mehdi Norowzian has crafted an emotionally profound and visually stunning film that demonstrates extraordinary cinematic artistry. It is a deeply human story with universal appeal, brought to life by an exceptional performance from Leila Hatami and an outstanding ensemble cast. We believe the film will resonate strongly with international audiences and festival programmers alike.”