Singer Studios founder and Emmy-nominated producer, writer and director Eloise Singer has been selected as a 2026 BAFTA Breakthrough, supported by Netflix, in recognition of her work creating The Pirate Queen.
BAFTA Breakthrough is an international talent initiative celebrating emerging creative talent across film, games and television. The programme provides recipients with access to industry mentorship, networking opportunities and career development support.
The recognition marks a major milestone for Singer, who founded Singer Studios in 2017 and has spent almost a decade developing The Pirate Queen into an award-winning, cross-platform storytelling franchise.
From Award-Winning VR to a Global Franchise
The Pirate Queen: A Forgotten Legend, starring and executive produced by Lucy Liu, launched in 2024 following its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival, where it won the Storyscapes Award.
The immersive experience went on to receive an Emmy nomination, establishing The Pirate Queen as one of Singer Studios' most recognised projects.
The franchise has since expanded with The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters, an immersive projection installation narrated by Lucy Liu, which was selected for the 2026 Festival de Cannes Immersive Competition.
The Next Chapter of The Pirate Queen
The BAFTA announcement comes alongside an exclusive Variety interview with Eloise Singer and Lucy Liu, revealing the next chapter of The Pirate Queen.
The pair are co-writing a graphic novel, The Pirate Queen: No Safe Waters, with artwork by Soo Lee, scheduled for publication in 2027. Singer Studios is also developing a new immersive game and exploring plans for an international immersive exhibition tour.
Together, these projects continue Singer Studios' ambition to bring compelling, historically inspired stories to audiences through innovative forms of entertainment.
Celebrating the Team Behind The Pirate Queen
The recognition reflects nearly a decade of creative development and collaboration, bringing together artists, developers, producers and international partners.
Singer Studios extends its thanks to Lucy Liu, the creative teams behind The Pirate Queen, and the many organisations and collaborators who have supported the project throughout its journey.
Singer joins the 2026 BAFTA Breakthrough cohort, supported by Netflix, as the studio looks ahead to the next phase of The Pirate Queen.
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