The BBC has announced new casting details for Half Man, a six-part drama series created by Richard Gadd, the Emmy-winning creator of Baby Reindeer. Gadd himself will star alongside BAFTA-winning actor Jamie Bell (All of Us Strangers, Rocket Man).
Here’s the Lowdown: Gadd and Bell will play estranged “brothers” Ruben and Niall, respectively. The story begins with Ruben unexpectedly appearing at Niall’s wedding, triggering a violent confrontation. The series will explore their fraught relationship across nearly 40 years, from the 1980s to the present day, showing the good and the bad times of the brothers. Younger versions of Niall and Ruben will be played by Mitchell Robertson and Stuart Campbell.
What This Means Now: This confirms a high-profile project for the BBC, teaming a rising star writer/actor (Gadd) with an established talent (Bell). The series is a co-production with BBC Scotland and HBO. The series explores the brothers’ relationship, from meeting as teens to falling out as grown-ups. The question posed by the new series is: “What does it mean to be a man?”
The Bigger Picture: Half Man adds to the growing list of acclaimed dramas from Richard Gadd. Other cast members joining the series are Neve McIntosh who will play Niall’s mother Lori, and Marianne McIvor playing Ruben’s mother Maura. Other cast members are Charlie De Melo, Bilal Hasna, Julie Cullen, Amy Manson, Philippine Velge, Stuart McQuarrie, Piers Ewart, Scot Greenan, Charlotte Blackwood and Calum Manchip. The series is made by Mam Tor Productions.
