Eddie Izzard and Gemma Arterton to star in Disney+ series Culprits
- Gemma Arterton and Eddie Izzard will appear in Culprits, one of Disney+'s first UK originals
- The "darkly comic thriller" follows a former criminal gang being targeted by a mysterious killer
- Nathan Stewart-Jarrett takes the lead role in the 8-part series, which is now filming
Eddie Izzard and Gemma Arterton have joined the cast of Disney+'s darkly comic thriller Culprits, with production beginning this week.
One of the streaming giant's first UK original series, the heist series from J Blakeson (I Care A Lot) features former Bond girl Arterton as Dianne, a member of a criminal gang targeted one-by-one by a killer after each went their separate ways. Izzard's role has yet to be disclosed.
Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Misfits) was revealed as taking the lead role of Joe when the show was announced last year, and the cast is rounded out with Kirby Howell-Baptiste (The Good Place, Barry), Niamh Algar (Pure, The Bisexual), Ned Dennehy (Good Omens), Kevin Vidal (Kim's Convenience), Kamel El Basha and newcomer Tara Abboud.
Culprits is one of three UK original series currently in production for Disney+, alongside the superhero sitcom Extraordinary from Emma Moran (Have I Got News For You), starring Máiréad Tyer and featuring Derry Girls' Siobáhn McSweeney, The Real McCoy's Robbie Gee and comedian Luke Rollason, as well as Sally Wainwright's period drama The Ballad Of Renegade Nell.
Culprits is produced by Morenike Williams (Delicious) and executive produced by Stephen Garrett (Rory Bremner, Who Else?) for his production company Character 7 and executive produced for Disney+ by Johanna Devereaux.
Meanwhile, Izzard has been filming an updated version of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, playing Dr Nina Jekyll in the UK production.
The comedian stars alongside Scott Chambers (Patrick) in the update of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novel, with the young actor playing a new assistant who must work to prevent the manic alter-ego Hyde from destroying Jekyll's life.
Without giving further details, Izzard told film industry website Variety: "It's wonderful to be able to reimagine this classic story in a modern way."
Director Joe Stephenson praised Izzard as "an extraordinary and versatile actress" and added: "I can't wait to bring this suspenseful take on the iconic classic to life."
Arterton will shortly be seen starring in Sky Comedy's upcoming comedy drama Funny Woman, the now retitled adaptation of Nick Hornby's 2014 novel Funny Girl about a comedian breaking through in 1960s Britain, adapted by Morwenna Banks.
The series co-stars Rupert Everett, David Threlfall (Shameless, Nightingales) and Rosie Cavaliero (Code 404, Mid Morning Matters With Alan Partridge).