EXCLUSIVE: Apple TV‘s untitled series based on Metropolis, from Philip Kerr’s globally bestselling book series Berlin Noir, has added seven to its cast: Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning Baby Reindeer breakout Jessica Gunning, along with BAFTA nominees Maxine Peake (Say Nothing), Daniel Mays (Line of Duty) and Sam Riley (Rebecca), Roger Allam (Endeavor), Liz Kingsman (F1), and Carys Daniels (Casualty).
Gunning will play Bertha Herzner, with Peake as Mila Gilhausen, Mays as Hari Voss, Riley as Robert Lanz, Allam as Ernst Gennat, Kingsman as Rosa Bauer, and Daniels as Dora Meysel.
As previously announced, the cast also includes Jack Lowden and Colin Firth, with production underway in Berlin.
The Berlin Noir book series centers on detective Bernie Gunther, whose origin story, kicking off in 1928, is told in the show. Bernie (Lowden) 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. Bernie’s 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.
Hailing from Bad Wolf (Industry) and Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman’s PlayTone (Masters of the Air), the show is written by Peter Straughan (Conclave) and directed by Tom Shankland (House of Guinness) and Luke Snellin (Industry). Straughan is exec producing alongside Shankland, as well as Jane Tranter, Dan McCulloch and Ryan Rasmussen for Bad Wolf, and Hanks and Goetzman for PlayTone, with Studio Babelsberg and Jane Thynne co-producing.
Gunning is represented by Markham, Froggatt and Irwin, Untitled and UTA; Peake by Maison 2 and Anonymous Content; Mays by Curtis Brown; Riley and Allam by Independent Talent; Kingsman by Independent Talent, CAA and Untitled Entertainment; and Daniels by Wintersons.