Netflix has picked up the Kiss Me First TV series. This new teen thiller-drama is written by Skins creator, Bryan Elsley. A US version of Skins was cancelled by MTV, after the first season, but the UK version ran for seven series, before being cancelled.

Kiss Me First is an adaptation of the Lottie Moggach’s YA novel, of the same name. Bryan Elsley and Melanie Stokes are executive producing, with Bradley Adams producing. Production begins this year.

Here is the UK Channel 4 press release with more information:

Kiss Me First, from creator of Skins, to premiere on E4 & Netflix

14 JAN 2016 NEWS RELEASES

Kiss Me First, an innovative and emotional thriller series written by Bryan Elsley (Skins, Dates) is coming to E4 and Netflix.

The new six-part drama will be produced by Balloon and Kindle Entertainment, and will premiere on E4 in the UK with Netflix streaming the series globally outside the UK. Kiss Me First is an adaptation of Lottie Moggach’s best-selling young adult novel of the same name.

Kiss Me First (6 x 60’) tells the story of Leila, a lonely 17 year old girl who is addicted to a fictional online gaming site called Agora. While in Agora, Leila meets Tess, a cool and confident party girl who harbours a dark secret. In the real world, the two girls become friends, but after Tess disappears Leila decides to assume her friend’s identity and in doing so is quickly drawn into unravelling the mystery behind her disappearance.

The series will combine live action with computer-generated virtual world sequences to create the parallel worlds of Leila and Tess’ real life and that of their online alteregos ‘Shadowfax’ and ‘Mania’ in the virtual world of Agora.

It will also feature state of the art animation sequences evoking the world of Agora and the stories of the young people who meet clandestinely there. This virtual world alongside live action narrative will provide a platform for exploring the loneliness and isolation experienced by young people and the disparity between appearance and reality in the social media age.

Piers Wenger, Head of Drama at Channel 4, said; “This is a thrilling and truly ground-breaking series which takes an emotional look at the lives of a group of young gamers and the truth which exists behind their online life. We are thrilled to be welcoming Bryan Elsley back to E4 to lead a group of new writers and to helm this exciting new show.”

Larry Tanz, Vice President Global Television at Netflix, said: “Netflix is committed to bringing the work of bold and innovative voices like Bryan’s to our subscribers around the world. Kiss Me First is a show with global themes and resonance, and we are proud to launch the show simultaneously across the entire world, exclusively on Netflix immediately after its broadcast in the UK.”

Bryan Elsley, writer and Executive Producer, added; “I’m very excited to be working with E4 again alongside Balloon, award winning Kindle Entertainment, Netflix and our brilliant animators Axis. We hope to thrill and mystify our audience on a headlong ride through emotions, intrigue and virtual reality.”

Melanie Stokes, Joint Managing Director, Kindle Entertainment and Executive Producer said; “The opportunity to be working alongside Bryan Elsley and E4 on Lottie Moggach’s superb debut novel is, to be honest, a dream come true.”

Kiss Me First (6 x 60’) is being adapted from Lottie Moggach’s best-selling novel by Bryan Elsley (Skins, Dates). The series will be produced by Balloon – the production company co-owned by Bryan Elsley and Harry Enfield – and Kindle Entertainment for Channel 4 in association with Netflix. Bryan Elsley and Melanie Stokes will be Executive Producers on the project and Bradley Adams will be the producer. Kiss Me First was commissioned for Channel 4 by Head of Drama Piers Wenger and Beth Willis, production will begin in 2016.

What do you think? Have you read Kiss Me First by Lottie Moggach? Do you plan to watch the Kiss Me First TV show, on E4 or Netflix?