The rapid advances AI technology have potentially radical implications for a huge, ambitious period drama like Panama. Up until now, it would have only been possible to bring this story to life with large budgets. While there are certain costs that cannot be cut or compromised in order to maintain quality - such as actors and costumes - there are many elements of this story where AI can very significantly affect budget, in particular, the kind of epic shots and vistas that give a show such as this its sweeping, panoramic feel.

We have partnered with newly formed AI startup Imaginary Arts, a collective of Oscar, Emmy and Bafta winning creative technologists. Our R & D suggests to us that by the time the first season would be written (for argument’s sake, 9 months) the AI will be advanced enough to be production ready. That technology, when developed in consort with the script, could potentially elicit budgetary savings of somewhere between 50 to 70% for Season One, and potentially even more in subsequent savings.

To be clear, we are in no way looking to replace actors. The show needs great actors in potentially award-winning roles, but the fact that AI could take over almost all the grand period shots means that the production could achieve a scale equivalent to a prestige drama of, say, $10m an episode on a budget of $3m an episode.

This emerging technology is a game changer for prestige drama, and Panama is on the cutting edge of that change.