History Channel orders AI-driven series for 2026 debut

History Channel Orders AI-Led Series Streets of the Past

Hearst Networks has commissioned a 10-episode AI-driven history series from Particle6, the production company behind the controversial AI character Tilly Norwood, marking another step forward for artificial intelligence in television production despite ongoing industry resistance.variety

Dutch Historian to Travel Through Time with AI

“Streets of the Past” (Straten van Toen) will premiere on The History Channel in the Netherlands in January 2026, featuring Dutch historian Corjan Mol, known for his recurring role on “The Curse of Oak Island”. The short-form series will use AI technology to transport Mol backward in time to explore the histories of renowned Dutch streets, squares, and canals.variety

According to Particle6, each episode will begin with Mol at a present-day location before AI facilitates his journey into the past, where he will appear as a cameo in key historical moments. The production will create immersive historical scenes using AI, drawing from archival paintings, engravings, and photographs to maintain authenticity. Episodes will spotlight locations including Rokin in Amsterdam, once home to the world’s first stock exchange in the 17th century, and Janskerkhof in Utrecht, a hub for Dutch resistance during World War II.hollywoodreporter

Eline van der Velden, founder and CEO of Particle6, stated this marks the company’s first series where AI plays a significant on-screen role under human oversight. “The technology has proven to be an ideal creative collaborator, allowing us to seamlessly integrate modern footage of the Netherlands with AI-generated scenes from its history,” she said.deadline

Sam Pearson, head of short-form commissioning at Hearst Networks, called the series “engaging and intelligent factual” programming enhanced by “remarkable backdrops and characters animated through AI”. He emphasized the company will “persist in exploring AI’s potential with ethical partners like Particle6, utilizing it thoughtfully, with established guidelines and principles, while always being transparent with viewers about when they are engaging with AI-generated content”.deadline

Controversy and Industry Pushback

The commission follows intense backlash against van der Velden’s September 2025 launch of Tilly Norwood, an AI-generated actress that Particle6 announced would seek representation from Hollywood talent agencies. SAG-AFTRA, the union representing 160,000 actors and entertainment professionals, condemned the creation, stating “creativity is, and should remain, fundamentally human-centered”. The union clarified that Norwood is “a character produced by a computer algorithm trained on the performances of numerous professional artists—without their consent or remuneration”.theankler

Canadian union ACTRA and U.K. union Equity joined the criticism, with Equity’s Shannon Sailing declaring on BBC Radio 4 that “Tilly is not an actress. She is a tool of AI”. Van der Velden defended the project, insisting Norwood represents “a creative work — a piece of art” and is “not a substitute for a human being”.journalrecord

Despite the controversy, AI continues advancing into television production. In June 2025, Gennie produced “Killer Kings” for Sky History, believed to be the first documentary series to air using fully AI-generated imagery. Turkish production company Ay Yapim also unveiled “Castle Walls,” billed as among the first AI-generated TV series globally.hearstnetworks