CANNES — William Hurt, Katherine Parkinson (“The Honorable Woman”), Tom Goodman-Hill (“Mr Selfridge”), Colin Morgan (“The Fall”), Rebecca Front (“The Thick Of It”), Neil Maskell (“Utopia”) and Gemma Chan (“Fresh Meat”) have joined the cast of “Humans,” the co-production from AMC, Channel 4 and Kudos.

“Humans” is set in a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a “Synth” — a highly-developed robotic servant eerily similar to its live counterpart. In the hope of transforming the way they live, one strained suburban family purchases a refurbished synth only to discover that sharing life with a machine has far-reaching and chilling consequences.

Written by British writing partnership Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley (“MI5”), “Humans” is based on the Swedish sci-fi drama “Real Humans.”

Hurt plays George Millican, a widower who has formed a close relationship with his out-of-date synth Odi, who he treats more like a son than a piece of machinery.

Parkinson plays Laura, a woman who seems to have it all — a great career as a lawyer, a loving husband, three children. But inside she’s struggling with her own unresolved demons. In a misguided attempt to help the situation her husband Joe, played by Tom Goodman Hill, buys a Synth. Played by Gemma Chan, Anita is the pliant, servile automaton that all Synths are supposed to be — but every now and then, she does something inexplicable. Something almost human.

Morgan joins the cast as Leo, who’s desperately trying to track down someone from his past; Front plays the overbearing carer synth, Vera; and Maskell takes on the role of police officer Peter Drummond, who works for the Special Technologies Task Force.

“Humans” has started filming and will air in 2015 on Channel 4 and AMC. Further casting to be announced in due course.

The series is produced by Kudos in association with Matador Films. Executive producers are Jane Featherstone and Derek Wax for Kudos with Chris Fry set to produce for Kudos, and Henrik Widman and Lars Lundstroem for Matador Films. Distribution will be handled by Shine International.