Cunk on Cinema trailer released as Diane Morgan returns for new series on BBC and Netflix

Philomena Cunk is turning her attention to the history of cinema in a new three-part series from Charlie Brooker, with Michael Bay and Benedict Cumberbatch among the high-profile contributors.

The BBC has unveiled the official trailer for Cunk on Cinema, the latest instalment in Charlie Brooker’s acclaimed mockumentary franchise, which sees Diane Morgan return as the gloriously misguided documentary-maker Philomena Cunk.

Set to arrive on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two in November, the three-part series will take viewers on an unconventional journey through the history of cinema, from the earliest days of filmmaking to the rise of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and the possibilities of artificial intelligence.

Cunk on Cinema will be available to stream in full on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Thursday, 12 November, while BBC Two will broadcast the episodes weekly at 10pm. The second episode is scheduled for 19 November, followed by the third on 26 November.

The new series promises to bring Cunk’s trademark combination of deadpan delivery, baffling observations and hilariously ill-informed questions to the world of movies, as she attempts to uncover what cinema is, why it exists and what it is ultimately trying to tell us.

Philomena Cunk tackles the history of cinema

The official trailer introduces Cunk’s latest documentary adventure, with the presenter taking on the big questions about one of the world’s most influential art forms.

From the invention of the camera to the experimental filmmakers of the 1960s New Wave movement, Cunk will attempt to make sense of cinema’s evolution and its place in modern culture.

Naturally, her approach to the subject is unlikely to follow the conventions of a traditional film documentary.

The series sees the fictional presenter contemplate the mysteries of cinema while enduring uncomfortable seats and stale popcorn, questioning everything from where movies came from to why they exist in the first place.

As the documentary progresses, Cunk will also explore the emergence of CGI and consider what artificial intelligence might mean for the future of filmmaking.

Her investigations will bring her into contact with experts and industry figures, who will be tasked with answering her characteristically unconventional questions.

For fans of the franchise, the premise offers another opportunity to see Morgan’s straight-faced performance collide with the seriousness of the subjects she attempts to explain.

Michael Bay and Benedict Cumberbatch among contributors

Cunk on Cinema will feature a range of contributors from across the film industry, including some recognisable names from Hollywood and British entertainment.

Director Michael Bay, known for films including Bad Boys, The Rock and the Transformers franchise, is among those appearing in the series.

Benedict Cumberbatch, whose screen credits include The Imitation Game and Sherlock, will also feature, alongside Daniel Pemberton, the composer known for his work on film and television projects, including Project Hail Mary.

The contributor line-up also includes Isabel Stevens, managing editor of Sight and Sound magazine.

Their involvement will provide Cunk with access to people who know the film industry from different perspectives, although the series will inevitably filter their expertise through its central character’s unconventional worldview.

The BBC has indicated that the list of contributors is not exhaustive, with further appearances potentially forming part of the programme.

Charlie Brooker’s cult mockumentary franchise continues

The new series builds on the success of Brooker’s established mockumentary franchise, which has developed a dedicated following through its satirical take on documentary television.

Morgan’s Philomena Cunk first became widely recognised for her ability to approach complex subjects with complete confidence while asking questions that leave experts struggling to maintain their composure.

Previous instalments include Cunk on Britain, Cunk on Shakespeare, the BAFTA TV-nominated Cunk on Earth and the Primetime Emmy Award-winning Cunk on Life.

Each production has applied the same distinctive format to a different subject, combining real interviews and documentary-style presentation with deliberately absurd humour.

With Cunk on Cinema, the franchise turns its attention to the medium that has shaped popular culture for more than a century.

The subject also gives the series plenty of material to explore, from the technological breakthroughs that made moving pictures possible to the artistic movements and blockbuster productions that transformed the industry.

And with the rapid development of AI-generated imagery and other emerging technologies, the question of cinema’s future offers an especially timely subject for Cunk’s latest investigation.

Who is behind Cunk on Cinema?

The three-part series is produced by Pacesetter Productions for BBC iPlayer and BBC Two.

Brooker leads the writing team, which includes Ben Caudell, Erika Ehler, Eli Goldstone, Jason Hazeley, Dan Maier, Morgan, Joel Morris, Michael Odewale, Kali Varghese and Sam Ward.

Al Campbell directs the series, while the executive producers are Brooker, Jessica Rhoades, Morgan and Ward. Mark Kinsella serves as co-executive producer for Pacesetter Productions, with Navi Lamba acting as the BBC commissioning editor.

The programme continues the creative partnership between Brooker and Morgan, whose collaboration has helped establish Cunk as one of British television comedy’s most distinctive characters.

Rather than presenting a conventional history of film, the new series is expected to use the familiar mockumentary format to poke fun at documentary conventions, intellectual pretensions and the sometimes bewildering language used to discuss art and culture.

When is Cunk on Cinema released?

UK viewers will be able to watch Cunk on Cinema on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two from Thursday, 12 November.

All three episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer from 6am on the opening day, allowing viewers to watch the entire series at their own pace.

BBC Two will air the episodes weekly at 10pm, with the second instalment following on 19 November and the finale arriving on 26 November.

For international audiences, the series is also scheduled to debut on Netflix outside the UK and Ireland.

With the official trailer now released and an impressive line-up of contributors confirmed, Cunk on Cinema is preparing to give the history of filmmaking the Philomena Cunk treatment.

Whether she is questioning the invention of the camera, challenging accepted ideas about cinema or attempting to predict the future of AI, one thing is certain: Cunk will be asking the questions that traditional film documentaries would never dare to consider.

And she will, of course, expect the experts to take every single one of them seriously.

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