News

Sherlock Fans, Rejoice! Maigret Reboot Is Here To Scratch Your Detective Drama Itch ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

British detective dramas have amazed audiences for quite a long time now. BBC’s Sherlock was an explosive offering that kept the audience engaged throughout its run and even afterwards. Sherlock Holmes has been and continues to be one of the most loved sleuths of the 20th century. There was a recent spinoff on the Sherlock Holmes story with the drama Sherlock & Daughter starring David Thewlis and Blu Hunt in the lead. If you are still missing a good old sleuth drama, then PBS has a new offering for you.

Titled Maigret, this PBS detective drama is an adaptation of the Jules Maigret novels by Georges Simenon. This novel series is touted to be the second best selling sleuth story after Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s creations. PBS’ Maigret is a modern-day adaptation of the novel,...

Watch out, Sherlock Holmes, because the date is set for the arrival of Paris's most beloved detective on PBS Masterpiece. A new teaser trailer for Maigret has just been released, introducing Benjamin Wainwright as the titular world-famous sleuth in the first-ever modern-day-set adaptation of Georges Simenon's bestselling detective stories. It offers a peek into his vividly depicted Paris, full of glitz, mystery, danger, and warmth alike. Along with the footage from the reboot came the exciting news that this new take on the Parisian will make his first appearance on U.S. television screens on October 5.

The new spin on Maigret takes Chief Inspector Jules Maigret through the city of love, from its upper-class luxury hotels and mansions to local bistros and bars, and the many haunts inhabited by the criminal underground. As seen in the trailer, what sets him apart from other famous sleuths is that he approaches every case with understanding,...

Hulu has released the official trailer for its latest limited series, “Washington Black,” starring Ernest Kingsley Jr. and Sterling K. Brown The eight-episode series is set to release on July 23 on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.

The series, based on Esi Edugyan’s best selling novel of the same name, follows George Washington “Wash” Black, an 11-year-old boy born on a Barbados sugar plantation, whose prodigious scientific mind sets him on a path of unexpected destiny in the 19th century. After an accident forces him to flee, he is thrust into a globe-spanning adventure that challenges and reshapes his understanding of family, freedom and love. As Wash begins to navigate his journey into uncharted lands and impossible odds, he finds the courage to imagine a future beyond the confines of the society he was born into.

Additional cast members for “Washington Black” include Tom Ellis, Rupert Graves,...

James Strong’s “Words of War” is a simple-minded, unimaginative, and frankly insipid biopic of trailblazing Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who died fighting for a cause. Her steadfastness to her beliefs cost her deeply, but she remains an example of daring journalism. Maxine Peake essays the valiant journalist who fought tooth and nail with the Russian establishment, the jingoistic mood of her own nation that contravenes her beliefs. She’s ready to fling herself through hellish circumstances, the deepest peril if her truth-telling demands it. She balks at nothing.

Peake does her best to channel righteous rage, but there’s only so much she can do, stunted by Eric Poppen’s script, which displays no interest or inclination in plumbing her doubts. She’s rock-solid in her certitude. Her moral fire is abiding, not dimming in the most severe challenges. Even when her boss, played by Ciaran Hinds, tells her to go softer,...

“Top picks this week” (Photo Credit – Instagram)

This weekend, our picks for your theatrical enjoyment are diverse. We’ve got three movies lined up: two from Hollywood—one is an animated film, and the other is a psychological horror. A Tamil black comedy also promises to tickle your funny bone while delivering its fair share of chaos.

On the Ott front, Netflix continues to reign supreme with the most entries, while Prime Video chimes in with two biggies featuring some star power from their respective industries. Curious about what else is worth your time? Scroll down for the complete list from various platforms.

Netflix

No Good Deed season 1 (English)

Created by Liz Feldman, this dark comedy series stars Ray Romano, Lisa Kudrow, Luke Wilson, Linda Cardellini, and others. It follows the chaotic lives of several families, each determined to claim ownership of the same dream home, sparking a whirlwind of schemes and secrets.

Colin Callender’s Playground will adapt Georges Simenon’s best-selling detective novels “Maigret” into a television series set to air in the U.S. on PBS under the “Masterpiece” banner.

The adaptation of the streetwise Parisian Chief Inspector Jules Maigret has started production in Budapest. Callender and David Stern will executive produce for Playground.

Benjamin Wainwright will play Maigret and Stefanie Martini stars as Madame Louise Maigret.

“George Simenon’s creation of Jules Maigret holds a firm place in the pantheon of great literary detectives and we are incredibly grateful to our partners ‘Masterpiece,’ Banijay, Ilp and John Simenon for their trust and support as we endeavor to bring a contemporary Maigret to a new, worldwide audience,” Stern said. “Patrick Harbinson’s brilliantly fresh take on this iconic IP is reflective of Playground’s ambition to expand our growing slate of contemporary returning dramas that speak to a global marketplace.

A new iteration of one of the most beloved detectives in fiction is coming to PBS.

The public broadcaster has ordered Maigret, a series based on Georges Simenon’s novels about Jules Maigret, a chief inspector for the Paris police. Production on the series, which stars Benjamin Wainwright as the title character, has begun in Budapest; it will air under PBS’ Masterpiece Mystery! banner.

Simenon published more than 100 novels and short stories about Maigret, selling more books than any other detective series aside from Sherlock Holmes. The new Maigret series, produced by Playground (Wolf Hall, All Creatures Great and Small), is set in the present and will position the character as an unconventional young detective with something to prove, a rising star in the Police Judiciaire who is relentless in his investigations and has both an uncanny ability to get under the skin of the criminals he is chasing and...

The long-gestating TV adaptation of Georges Simenon’s Maigret has landed at PBS Masterpiece, with Belgravia: The Next Chapter’s Benjamin Wainwright and Stefanie Martini (Prime Suspect 1973) playing the eponymous leads.

From Colin Callender’s Wolf Hall producer Playground, the series follows the detective and his wife in Paris. Maigret is a rising star in the Police Judiciaire, relentless in his investigations, with an uncanny ability to get under the skin of the criminals he is chasing and a matchless knowledge of Paris and its inhabitants. Lead Wainwright played Lord Frederick Trenchard in MGM+ sequel series Belgravia: The Next Chapter, which followed on from Julian Fellowes’ original.

Patrick Harbinson is writing Maigret and the cast includes Blake Harrison, Reda Elazouar, Kerrie Hayes, Shaniqua Okwok and Rob Kazinsky, with Nathalie Armin set to play Prosecutor Mathilde Kernavel.

The Maigret books are the second best-selling detective series of all time behind Sherlock. Playground licensed them from Georges Simenon Limited and unveiled the development three years ago, at which point Red Arrow Studios International – which is no longer attached – was co-producing. Banijay Rights has since boarded and will sell globally.

The previous Maigret TV adaptation aired on ITV for two seasons from 2016, starring Rowan Atkinson.

Playground Joint MD David Stern said: “George Simenon’s creation of Jules Maigret holds a firm place in the pantheon of great literary detectives and we are incredibly grateful to our partners and John Simenon for their trust and support as we endeavor to bring a contemporary Maigret to a new, worldwide audience.”

Harbinson will direct the first two episodes of the Maigret series with Faye Gilbert directing 3 and 4, and David Evans taking 5 and 6. Susanne Simpson serves as the executive producer on behalf of Masterpiece the lead commissioning broadcaster, with John Simenon executive producing on behalf of Georges Simenon Limited. International distribution will be handled by Banijay Rights, the global sales arm of Banijay Entertainment.

Playground has been busy of late. The indie has completed the second in the Wolf Hall franchise, also for Masterpiece and the BBC, and is working on an Inspector Lynley Mysteries adaptation for BritBox International.

Exclusive: Joe Dempsie (Game of Thrones) and BAFTA winner Francesca Annis (Flesh & Blood) are among a host of stars boarding season 2 of Ben Richards’ BBC legal drama Showtrial.

The pair are joining the previously announced Adeel Akhtar, Nathalie Armin and Michael Socha in the five-part season from Line of Duty maker World Productions. Dempsie will play Di Miles Southgate, while Annis will play a character called Dame Harriet Kenny.

Other high profile cast revealed today include Nina Toussaint-White (Bodyguard) and Fisayo Akinade (Heartstopper). Tom Padley (The Lost Pirate Kingdom), Kerrie Hayes (Blue Jean), Ali Khan (A Haunting in Venice), Daniel Kendrick (Inside Man), Frankie Wilson (Against the Ice), Anna Próchniak (The Tattooist of Auschwitz), Anna Wilson Jones (Victoria), John Light (Around the World in 80 Day), Aidan McArdle (Spy Master), Daisy Badger (The Sandman), Flora Montgomery (The Crown), Pearce Quigley (Detectorists), John Marquez (Doc Martin), Anna Healy (Mother’s Day...

Written and created by Ben Richards, Showtrial was a thrilling, mysterious legal drama that kept us compelled in October 2021. The series will be back next year, and we already know it stars Adeel Akhtar, Nathalie Armin and Michael Socha. The team is now adding Joe Dempsie, Francesca Annis, Nina Toussaint-White and Fisayo Akinade.

When the high-profile climate activist Marcus Calderwood is left for dead in a violent hit and run, he uses his dying moments to identify his killer — a serving policeman. But who is this unnamed "Officer X"? What does his own history reveal about the nature of trauma and revenge, and was Marcus’s death a careless accident or cold-blooded murder?

From the victim's last breath to the jury’s final verdict, Showtrial takes us into the worlds of the charismatic and cocky officer Justin Mitchell (Socha); Sam Gill (Akhtar), an anxious defense solicitor with a reputation for...

Renewal

World Productions is producing a new season of hit series “Showtrial” for BBC One and iPlayer. Writer and creator Ben Richards (“The Diplomat”) returns for the series.

In the show, when high-profile climate activist Marcus Calderwood is left for dead in a violent hit and run, he uses his dying moments to identify his killer – a serving policeman. From the victim’s last breath to the jury’s final verdict, “Showtrial” delves into the worlds of cocky officer Justin Mitchell; Sam Gill, an anxious defense solicitor with a reputation for winning lost causes; and Leila Hassoun-Kenny, a rigorous lawyer leading the case against the accused.

The first season aired on the BBC in the U.K. in 2021 and found a U.S. home in Sundance Now.

“Showtrial” (5 x 60′) is directed by Julia Ford (“Everything I Know About Love”) and produced by Ken Horn (“Line of Duty”). Executive producers are...

Line of Duty maker World’s BBC thriller Showtrial has been renewed for a second season with a fresh cast.

BAFTA-winning Sherwood star Adeel Akhtar will feature in a new story alongside Shane Meadows’ Gallows Pole lead Michael Socha and Nathalie Armin (Home), in the show created by The Diplomat’s Ben Richards.

As with Season 1, the second run will focus on a hotly-contested criminal trial that divides the nation and takes place in the full glare of the media spotlight. Logline reads: “When the high-profile climate activist Marcus Calderwood is left for dead in a violent hit and run, he uses his dying moments to identify his killer – a serving policeman. But who is this unnamed ‘Officer X’? What does his own history reveal about the nature of trauma and revenge, and was Marcus’s death a careless accident or cold-blooded murder?”

The first season starred Tracy Ifeachor and...

James Norton has been set to lead the West End stage adaptation of Hanya Yanagihara’s bestselling novel A Little Life. Shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2015, the emotional story follows four college friends in New York City. Ivo van Hove is directing the 12-week run at the Harold Pinter Theatre which begins on March 25.

Also starring are Bridgerton’s Luke Thompson, Omari Douglas (It’s A Sin), Zach Wyatt (The Witcher), Elliot Cowan (The Crown), Zubin Varla (Tammy Faye), Nathalie Armin (Force Majeure) and Emilio Doorgasingh (The Kite Runner).

London, England – October 12: Hanya Yanagihara author of A Little Life, at a Photocall for the Man Booker Prize 2015 Shortlisted Authors, at the Royal Festival Hall on October 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by David Levenson/Getty Images)

The quartet of friends is made up of aspiring actor Willem (Thompson), successful architect Malcolm (Wyatt), struggling artist Jb (Douglas) and...

Dara, adapted by Tanya Ronder from Shahid Nadeem’s play, originally performed by Ajoka Theatre, Pakistan, opens in the Lyttelton Theatre on 27 January, directed by Nadia Fall. The cast is Esh Alladi, Nathalie Armin, Rudi Dharmalingam, Emilio Doorgasingh, Vincent Ebrahim, Mariam Haque, Indira Joshi, Scott Karim, Nicholas Khan, Ranjit Krishnamma, Anjli Mohindra, Simon Nagra, Ronak Patani, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Anneika Rose, Chook Sibtain, Gurjeet Singh, Liya Tassisa, Zubin Varla, Anjana Vasan, Gary Wood and Sargon Yelda. Dara will be designed by Katrina Lindsay with lighting by Neil Austin, music by Niraj Chag, sound design by Carolyn Downing, movement by Liam Steel and fight direction by Kate Waters.

1659. Mughal India. The imperial court, a place of opulence and excess; music, drugs, eunuchs and harems. Two brothers, whose mother’s death inspired the Taj Mahal, are heirs to this Muslim empire. Now they fight ferociously for succession. Dara, the crown prince, has the...

New Emmerdale recruit Chris Bisson is to make a guest appearance in BBC One's daytime medical drama Doctors. The 34-year-old - who makes his return to soap as Jai Sharma in the ITV1 rural show on September 11 - takes on the role of jewellery wholesaler James Gupte, husband to a heavily pregnant Nadine (Nathalie Armin). As he heads out to the bank, he instructs a delivery man to leave his latest hoard of stock in the safe. However, when the safe is closed, the courier fails to notice that Nadine is inside. James returns home and is stunned to realise that his wife is trapped in the vault. He is further perturbed when the fire brigade reveal that the safe's manufacturer has been out of business for years. (more)...

Philip Howard's sell-out Traverse Theatre Company production of David Greig's Damascus is to be presented at the Tricycle Theatre by Michael Edwards and Carole Winter for Mje Productions. Damascus will run from 3 February - 7 March 2009 with press night on Monday 9 February. Designs are by Anthony Macllwaine, lighting is by Chahine Yavroyan, the composer/arranger is Jon Beales and sound is by Graham Sutherland. The original Traverse Theatre Company cast - Nathalie Armin, Alex Elliott, Dolya Gavanski, Paul Higgins and Khalid Laith - will reprise their roles.