Christina Hendricks and Naomie Harris are set to lead “Reputation,” a new celebrity-focused legal drama for BBC.
The six-part series, from Banijay U.K. company The Forge, sees Harris (“Skyfall”) play Lena, a top lawyer who is hired to represent international pop star Davina Knight (“Mad Men” star Hendricks) in the celebrity case of the decade.
“Rivals” star Emily Atack also joins the cast alongside Kyle Soller (“Andor”), who plays Knight’s husband Billy.
“After Davina releases a provocative new song accusing her ex-husband, Billy, of abusive behaviour and he retaliates in kind, their private breakdown erupts into a very public libel battle,” reads the synopsis. “The case is fought far beyond the courtroom, as PR machines are deployed, laws are bent and social media platforms become judge, jury and battleground – driving outrage for clicks and warping the truth.”
Rounding out the cast are Alex Jennings (“The Crown”), David Gyasi (“The Diplomat”), Marli Siu (“Twenty Twenty Six”), Alex Heath (“Serpent Queen”), Tilly Keeper (“You”), Corey Johnson (“The Day of the Jackal”), Aidan McArdle (“Sherlock & Daughter”), Ernest Kingsley Jnr (“Washington Black”), Jodie Campbell (“Boarders”), Kayla Meikle (“Transaction”), Mike Noble (“This City is Ours”), Enzo Cilenti (“Black Mirror”) and Kat Ronney (“Dinosaur”).
Anya Reiss “Becoming Elizabeth” writes and exec produces the series, which is already in production.
While no release date has been confirmed, the six-episode show is set to drop on BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Banijay Rights are repping global sales.
“I was hooked from page one of ‘Reputation,’ says Harris. “It’s so rare to read scripts with the wit and flair of Anya’s writing and I knew straight away that I wanted to play Lena.”
Hendricks added: “Davina’s a fantastic, fierce character. I’m so looking forward to working with Naomie and I’m delighted to be working again with the Forge.”
Harris is repped by by The Artists Partnership, WME, Untitled Entertainment and Johnson, Slewett, Shapiro and Kole. Hendricks is repped by LINK, Independent and IAG.
“Reputation” was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, the BBC’s director of drama. Alex Kazamia produces and Mahalia Belo directs. Alongside Reiss exec producers are Belo, George Ormond and Jade Taylor. Other writers on the series include Shyam Popat and Karla Crome.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source variety.com ’
