EXCLUSIVE: Slow Horses star Jack Lowden looks to be reuniting with Apple on one of the streamer’s more anticipated series. Sources tell Deadline that the Emmy-nominated actor is set to star in an untitled series based on Metropolis, from Philip Kerr’s globally bestselling Berlin Noir book series.
Insiders also say that BAFTA nominee Tom Shankland will direct as well as executive produce the series, which Deadline first told you was in the works back in April.
Peter Straughan, who won the Adapted Screenplay Oscar for Conclave, will serve as showrunner as well as adapt the script and executive produce. Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman will also exec produce through their Playtone banner. Playtone and Apple most recently teamed on the World War II series Masters of the Air. The new series will be filmed in Berlin.
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The Berlin Noir book series revolved around iconic detective Bernie Gunther; the adaptation begins with Metropolis and his origin story in 1928. Gunther is a police officer, newly promoted to the intimidating and elite Berlin Murder Squad, and must investigate what seems to be a serial killer targeting victims on the fringes of society. His Berlin is a city of unprecedented freedom and dizzying turbulence, the Nazis just a distant nightmare waiting in the wings. With the political and social world shifting to a new norm, we see Bernie fighting for truth, whatever the cost.
Jane Tranter, Dan McCulloch and Ryan Rasmussen are executive producing for Bad Wolf.
Kerr is the author of 14 Bernie Gunther novels, bestsellers in the U.S. and the UK and translated into many languages. He finished Metropolis shortly before he died from cancer in 2018, so it is both the first and last Bernie novel. His widow, the novelist Jane Thynne, owns the copyright to the books through their company Thynker Ltd c/o United agents.
Lowden and Apple have strong ties following the success of the Emmy-winning drama series Slow Horses, which has racked up numerous accolades and earned Lowden a supporting actor Emmy nom in 2024. The new Season 5 of the British spy series premieres September 24.
Lowden is currently filming the anticipated Pride & Prejudice series for Netflix, which also stars Emma Corrin and Olivia Colman. He is repped by Conway van Gelder Grant in the UK and UTA in the U,S.
As for Shankland, he most recently directed the Netflix series House of Guinness starring Anthony Boyle. He is repped by Hugo Young and Independent Talent Group.
Straughan is repped by Casarotto Ramsay and CAA.