29/11/2024 - The six-part limited series, inspired by real events and set during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, captures the personal toll of war and will start shooting next year

US actor Paul Wesley, known for his roles in Star Trek and The Vampire Diaries, is set to star in and executive-produce Unspoken, a six-part Ukrainian war thriller. The series, primarily in English, chronicles a deeply personal tale of survival and resilience during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A four-nation co-production, Unspoken has drawn significant attention after winning the Best Project Award at the 2023 Series Mania Co-Pro Pitching Sessions (see the news), and is now being developed as a global project.

Set on the day of the invasion, Unspoken follows Paul, a former soldier-turned-taxi-driver in Poland, portrayed by Wesley. After receiving a desperate call from his wife in Kyiv, Paul races against time to guide his family to safety. As they face a war-torn landscape fraught with chaos and danger, the story unfolds through Paul’s frantic phone calls, heightening the urgency and tension of their escape. Inspired by true events, the series aims to deliver an emotionally charged depiction of war’s human cost.

Wesley spoke about his commitment to the project: “In a world stricken by war, I’m passionate about bringing the human side of this conflict to life through the lens of one man and his family. I hope viewers connect with Paul’s struggle and take away something meaningful about life, values and resilience from his journey, and a renewed understanding of the human spirit under pressure.”

The project was initiated by Anna Różalska (Who Will Write Our History [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), of Match&Spark, during the first year of the full-scale war. Różalska united Ukrainian producers Dmytro Sukhanov (Honeymoon [+see also:
film review
interview: Zhanna Ozirna
film profile], My Thoughts Are Silent [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) and Natalia Libet (Stop-Zemlia [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kateryna Gornostai
film profile], Forever-Forever [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Anna Buryachkova
film profile]) with Polish screenwriter Filip Syczyński to craft this poignant and urgent narrative. Ukrainian co-writer Zhanna Ozirna also contributed to the development, and the team received a grant from the Ukrainian Film Academy in collaboration with the Netflix Foundation for Creative Equity, also benefiting from expert script consultancy through EAVE.

Director David Straiton (Narcos, Star Trek, Law & Order) brings his expertise and personal connection to the project, having volunteered in Ukraine to assist the International Legion. Różalska expressed her excitement at the collaboration: “Our producing partners welcome Paul Wesley on board this passion project. We’re thrilled to have 5X bring its impressive creative and sales skills to Unspoken, and help deliver this great series to the world. With David Straiton bringing both his directing vision and his experience on the ground in Ukraine, we have every element in place to bring this gripping and meaningful series to life.”

Filming for Unspoken will take place in Eastern Europe during the winter of 2025–26. The series is being co-produced by Anna Różalska and Tarik Hachoud for Match&Spark (Poland/USA), Alon Shtruzman and Limor Gott Ronen for 5X Media (USA), Dmytro Sukhanov for Toy Cinema (Ukraine), Natalia Libet for 2Brave Productions (Ukraine) and Saar Yogev for Electric Sheep GmbH (Germany).