Richard Gadd, the creative force behind the brutally honest “Baby Reindeer,” isn’t pulling any punches with his next project. He’s teaming up with Jamie Bell for “Half Man,” a six-part BBC/HBO drama that digs deep into the often messy, always complicated terrain of brotherhood. And let’s be clear: this isn’t your Hallmark Channel version of sibling love.
Gadd will star alongside Bell, playing Ruben to Bell’s Niall, two brothers whose shared history explodes back into their lives during a particularly eventful wedding (let’s just say it involves more than just cold feet). From there, the narrative ricochets back and forth across four decades, charting the joys, betrayals, and unspoken resentments that shape their relationship. Think less “Wonder Years,” more “blood brothers” with a healthy dose of dysfunction thrown in.
Filming kicks off in Scotland in 2025, with a 2026 premiere planned for BBC iPlayer, BBC One, BBC Scotland, and, across the pond, HBO. That BBC/HBO pairing isn’t accidental; it’s a clear signal that “Half Man” is aiming for something weighty, something with international bite.
Gadd wrote the part of Ruben with Bell specifically in mind, and Bell’s calling the project “poignant and singular” suggests we’re in for something more than just a standard family drama. The directors are Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck.
“Half Man” is a Mam Tor Productions production for BBC One, BBC Scotland, BBC iPlayer and HBO. Executive producers are Richard Gadd, Gavin Smith, Jamie Bell, Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck. Banijay Rights is handling global sales (minus the UK, Ireland, and the US).
