Apple TV’s ‘Small Prophets’ Trailer Is Wondrous
The comedy series is predicated on the myth of the Homunculi.
When the BBC originally greenlit Small Prophets in the spring of 2025, the urban fantasy series (or suburban fantasy, to be more accurate) looked like a long shot to cross the pond. Since the end of the 2023 WGA/SAG-AFRTA strike, American production companies have pulled back on co-productions, especially those that don’t fit the mold of what U.S. viewers expect to see on television, and Small Prophets definitely didn’t fit those preconceptions.
The comedy series is predicated on the myth of the Homunculi, which has been around since Ancient Greece, stemming from misconceptions about how babies were made. Aristoltole, for example, believed sperm was more important than the egg (because men have always been this way); his theories gave rise to the idea that fully formed little men who live inside a sperm could be magically produced sans regular reproduction activities. These little men, in turn, had special powers, whether granting wishes, answering impossible questions, or helping solve the riddles of the universe.
Science has mostly knocked these once-common myths out of the national consciousness; religion has done the rest to ensure these pagan-adjacent stories never really took hold in places like the U.S. But the myth of the Homunculus as a magical or malevolent force still exists, mostly in manga and anime. That’s one reason why the Homunculi are animated beings in Small Prophets. It’s also one of the (many) reasons why American producers initially passed on the series. A partially animated comedy series about a myth that never really took hold in America? It’ll never work.
Then the series became one of the BBC’s biggest series launches of the year, only bested by Ludwig’s recent Season 2 return. Thankfully, Apple TV hasn’t ended its experimental phase and remains one of the few production companies where money is no object, making the series (already commissioned for Season 2) a perfect fit.
Here’s the series synopsis:
Small Prophets is a comic tale of the eccentric Michael Sleep who, since his darling Clea disappeared seven years ago, has lived a very ordinary life. He works at a DIY store, visits his dad Brian, and hopes Clea will return. One day Brian shares an old recipe involving rainwater, horse manure and more than a little alchemy. With the recipe in hand, Michael sets out (albeit with some skepticism) to create homunculi — magical spirits that can predict the future — in the hope they have the answer to his burning question: “Will I ever see Clea again?”
Michael gets help from his young coworker Kacey, an unlikely friendship that blossoms partly (but not wholly) through their mutual dislike of store manager Gordon. Their friendship adds to the frustration and intrigue of his nosy neighbors, who are obsessed with finding out what the hell is going on in the garden shed.
(BBC)
The series stars Pearce Quigley (The Gentlemen) as Michael Sleep; Michael Palin (Monty Python) as his father, Brian; Lauren Patel (Wallace & Gromit) as his co-worker, Kacey; and Mackenzie Crook (Game of Thrones) as their boss, Gordon.
The supporting cast includes Paul Kaye (Shardlake) as Roy, plus Jon Pointing (Sweetpea) and Sophie Willan (Time) as Michael’s nosy neighbors.
(BBC)
Series creator (and co-star) Mackenzie Crook wrote and directed all six episodes, and also executive produced alongside Lisa Thomas for Treasure Trove Productions, plus Christine Gernon & Emma Strain for Blue House Productions.
Apple TV will debut Small Prophets on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, and follow with one episode a week through mid-November.
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Season 2 of Small Prophets is officially confirmed and expected to arrive as part of the 2027-2028 TV season.
