The State is a four-part British television drama serial, written and directed by Peter Kosminsky, that dramatises the experiences of four young British Muslims who fly to Syria to join Islamic State. The series was originally broadcast in the UK by Channel 4, with all four parts airing on successive nights between 20 and 23 August 2017. The series was green-lit in July 2016, following extensive research by Kosminsky.Ony Uhiara, Sam Otto, Shavani Cameron and Ryan McKen were later cast as the four principal characters, Shakira, Jalal, Ushna and Ziyad. Most of the series's location filming was undertaken in Spain later that autumn. The series was broadcast worldwide by National Geographic, airing in Australia from 23 August, and premiering in the United States as a two-night special event on 18 and 19 September, In France, the series was broadcast by Canal+ from 4 September. The series was released on DVD in the United States on 28 November 2017.