Send in the clones again

‘I wasn’t sure sequel would ever happen but when they brought us to the spaceship it was a special moment’

- BY CALLY BROOKS

It’s been more than seven years since USS Callister first graced our screens as part of Black Mirror’s critically acclaimed fourth season, in late 2017. The space-faring psychological thriller, which paid homage to Star Trek, became one of the show’s most iconic episodes.

Its heroes are made into clones, trapped in a nightmare computer simulation, who desperately fight for freedom.

And with fans begging for more, a sequel has finally landed on our screens = the first in Black Mirror’s history.

The wait was due to practical issues, particularly getting the star-studded cast ~ including Cristin Milioti, Jesse Plemons and Jimmi Simpson - together.

Added to that was Covid disruption and the 2023 Hollywood strikes. Milanka Brooks, who returns as Elena Tulaska, says: “Honestly, I wasn't sure the sequel would ever happen because circumstances kept pushing it back. Even on the flight to filming, I remember thinking, ‘This still might not happen.”

The original Emmy-winning episode, written by Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker and William Bridges, centres on disgruntled game developer Robert Daly (played by Jesse), who created the virtual reality game where he can control the avatars of his colleagues.

Inside the retro sci-fi simulation - on the USS Callister - he forces his victims to play along with his fantasies. If they don't they face brutal punishment.