Acclaimed British actors Kate Bosworth (Still Alice, 90 Minutes In Heaven) and Sam Riley (Control, Maleficent) have today (October 7) been confirmed to take on the lead roles in brand new ambitious BBC One drama SS-GB.
Further names revealed for the series include Jason Flemyng (The Missing), Aneurin Barnard (Cilla), Maeve Dermody (Serangoon Road), James Cosmo (Game Of Thrones) and German actor Rainer Bock (Inglorious Basterds).
Produced by Sid Gentle Films Ltd, the series has been adapted from Len Deighton's alternate history novel of the same name, by one of the UK's biggest writing partnerships - BAFTA Award winners Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, famous for their work on Bond movies Skyfall, Casino Royale and the forthcoming Spectre amongst others.
This new five-part thriller is set in a Nazi-occupied London, based on the premise that the Germans took home the victory in the Battle of Britain.
BAFTA nominated Riley takes on the role of British Detective Douglas Archer, who finds himself working under the brutal SS in occupied London. When he investigates what on the surface looks like a simple black market murder, he's dragged into a much more dangerous world where the stakes are high with the ultimate outcome of war.
Bosworth will play American journalist Barbara Barga in the show, a woman who becomes linked with the murder case Archer's investigating through a dark and intricate story of moral ambiguity.
Chatting about his involvement, Riley said: "Archer is [a] compelling and complex character. He is a good guy struggling to reconcile his job as a policeman within the repressive Nazi machine. Neal Purvis and Robert Wade have written a gripping screenplay that pays homage to Len Deighton's novel. I am very much looking forward to working with this talented team."
Bosworth adds: "I am thrilled and honoured to be a part of this incredible team, bringing an iconic novel to the screen."
Multi-award winning director Philipp Kadelback (Naked Among Wolves, Generation War) has been brought onboard to direct the show, marking his first move into an English-language television series.
He commented: "I am extremely excited and lucky to be working with such a talented and international cast. Together we are embarking on the enormous challenge of creating an enthralling and thought-provoking fictional world and I can't wait to start."
Sally Woodward Gentle, Lee Morris, Neal Purvis and Robert World are all executive producers for Sid Gentle Films Ltd., with the BBC's Lucy Richer also executive producing. Patrick Schweitzer produces the series, with production starting later this month for broadcast on BBC One in 2016.
Tagged in Sam Riley Kate Bosworth