‘Industry’ Creators on How Their Storytelling and Characters Have Evolved (in Bleepable Ways) and HBO’s “Fantastic Notes”

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On Thursday, the traders from Pierpoint were shining in the spotlight of London as creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay of Industry discussed some intriguing stories and behind-the-scenes knowledge about their popular TV show at the first-ever SXSW London during one of the Screen Keynote discussions.

On the show ‘Industry‘, we found ourselves stuck in a creative rut for three long years, as remembered by Down. The first episode was rewritten approximately sixty times.

He praised HBO for commissioning the show and giving the creators the freedom to develop it organically over time. “Initially, it was just about capturing everyday life in London,” Down revealed. “That’s what really set the series in motion.

As time goes by, the show and its characters have matured significantly, with the duo standing out notably. Harry Lawtey’s character, Robert, was initially a one-dimensional womanizer, but he has evolved into the emotional core of Industry, often eliciting laughter from viewers along the way.

Kay provided the crowd with an understanding of the evolution in storytelling experienced by the creative pair. He admitted that they had been intrigued, yet lacked the confidence, to broaden the narrative beyond the trading floor and touch upon topics such as capitalism and Britain to a slightly greater extent.

Initially focusing on various aspects such as news, politics, and their intersections during season three, he pointed out. For our return in season four, we aimed to delve deeper into authentic newspaper or political storylines rather than being confined to financial narratives. With each episode taking us 18 months to produce, it’s essential for us to maintain creative enthusiasm. As we grow older, our curiosity about these topics naturally expands, leading us to broaden the scope of our canvas to keep both me and him intrigued.

Kay stated, “Our creative instincts tend to lean towards the negative, as Mickey and I discovered when working together. Instead of focusing on what we admired, we found ourselves drawn to things we disliked.” He also mentioned that in their early days with HBO, they were “occasionally aggressive in our interactions,” but he added, “Their feedback has always been excellent, and it still is today. Even if we don’t use their suggestions, they make us question our work or look at it from a different perspective. Over time, we’ve evolved into more collaborative partners, which I believe is due to gaining experience.

Back in September, HBO announced that the fourth season of the darkly humorous drama series, “Industry,” which stars Marisa Abela, Harry Lawtey, Ken Leung, and others, was renewed for another run. In the third season, their characters took a significant gamble on a green tech energy company led by a British aristocrat, played by Kit Harington, who revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that he’s been an admirer of “Industry” for quite some time.

The showrunners of the series actually met while studying at Oxford University and subsequently worked in the finance sector that serves as the backdrop for “Industry.

From the 7th of June, I’ll be diving into the exciting world of SXSW, an event I’m really looking forward to. Interestingly, The Hollywood Reporter’s parent company, Penske Media, holds a significant share in this event, making it all the more intriguing!

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2025-06-05 17:54