Obama-Backed “Bodkin” Parodies True Crime Podcast and Premieres May 9 on Netflix

Netflix is releasing a new darkly comic thriller series, Bodkin, on May 9, created by British writer Jez Scharf and produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions.

The seven-part series stars Will Forte as Gilbert, an American podcaster who travels to a small Irish town to try and find his Irish roots. He is joined by investigative journalist Dove, played by Siobhán Cullen, and Emmy, played by Robyn Cara, who is Gilbert’s podcast assistant.

The trio of amateur investigators set out to crack a number of missing persons cases in the titular town.

In the series, the podcasters investigate the disappearance of three strangers in the idyllic coastal Irish settlement. But as they start to pull the threads of the story, they find themselves embroiled in something much bigger and weirder than they could have imagined.

Executive producer Tonia Davis describes the series as a “wickedly wry thriller which questions truth, narrative, and the very purpose of each”.

The series is directed by Nash Edgerton and also stars David Wilmot as Seamus Gallagher and Chris Walley as Sean O’Shea.

Bodkin is Scharf’s first full series for Netflix, although he has previously written shorts including Mister Biscuits and The Undream.

It is the first significant drama series for Higher Ground Productions, which has previously worked on We The People, Waffles + Mochi, and Rustin for the streamer.

The production company was founded by Barack and Michelle Obama in 2019: “We created Higher Ground to harness the power of storytelling, that’s why we couldn’t be more excited about these projects. Touching on issues of race and class, democracy and civil rights, and much more, we believe each of these productions won’t just entertain, but will educate, connect, and inspire us all.”

Michelle Obama added: “We love this slate because it spans so many different interests and experiences, yet it’s all woven together with stories that are relevant to our daily lives. We think there’s something here for everyone—moms and dads, curious kids, and anyone simply looking for an engaging, uplifting watch at the end of a busy day. We can’t wait to see these projects come to life — and the conversations they’ll generate.”

The Obamas appointed Priya Swaminathan and Davis as co-heads of Higher Ground in 2019.

Davis previously oversaw development for TV and film productions at Chernin Entertainment, with credits including Amy Schumer comedy Snatched, musical The Greatest Showman, and action-thriller Underwater.

Swaminathan previously oversaw the film development slate at Megan Ellison’s Annapurna, and has produced documentaries for Showtime, MTV and ESPN.

Principal photography on Bodkin began in West Cork in the summer of 2022 and took place over six months. Other filming locations included Wicklow and Dublin.