Filming has got underway in London this week for Steven Knight’s eight-episode drama, TABOO starring Tom Hardy.
TABOO is a major eight-episode drama series created by Steven Knight the man who also created PEAKY BLINDERS and Locke, which also stars Tom Hardy, who will also serve as the Executive Producer. TABOO will be directed by Kristoffer Nyholm (Danish TV series “The Killing,” The Enfield Haunting) for BBC One and FX.
In TABOO, Hardy stars as James Keziah Delaney who returns to 1814 London after 10 years in Africa to discover that he has been left a mysterious legacy by his father. Driven to wage war on those who have wronged him, Delaney finds himself in a face-off against the East India Company, whilst playing a dangerous game between two warring nations – Britain and America.
Alongside Hardy’s protagonist is Michael Kelly (HOUSE OF CARDS, EVEREST), who plays American doctor ‘Dumbarton,’ Jonathan Pryce (Pirates of the Caribbean, Brazil) as ‘Sir Stuart Strange,’ the head of the East India Company and Delaney’s nemesis, Oona Chaplin (THE CRIMSON FIELD, THE HOUR) as ‘Zilpha Geary’ James’ half-sister, and David Hayman (MACBETH, THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS) as ‘Brace,’ Delaney’s trusted man-servant.
Jessie Buckley plays ‘Lorna Bow’ who lays claim to James’ father’s will. Ashley Walters is a dangerous face from James’ years in Africa. Jefferson Hall plays ‘Thorne Geary,’ Zilpha’s husband; Ed Hogg is ‘Godfrey,’ Delaney’s cross-dressing spy inside the East India Company, Leo Bill is ‘Wilton,’ Strange’s fashionable, amoral accomplice; Christopher Fairbank as ‘Ibbotson,’ a man to whom James is indebted; Richard Dixon is ‘Pettifer,’ Strange’s right hand man; Jason Watkins is ‘Solomon Coop,’ the Prince Regent’s right hand man and Spy Master; and Nicholas Woodeson is lawyer ‘Thoyt,’ the Delaney family’s former lawyer.
Talent behind the camera includes Director of Photography Mark Patten whose work includes upcoming sci-fi thriller Morgan for 20th Century Fox, Production Designer Sonja Klaus (“Mr. Selfridge,” “Babylon A.D.”), Costume Designer Joanna Eatwell (“Wolf Hall,” “Eric & Ernie”) and Casting Director Nina Gold (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Martian).
Ridley Scott’s Scott Free London and Tom Hardy’s Hardy Son & Baker are producing for BBC One and FX, with Sonar Entertainment distributing worldwide outside the UK.
TABOO is based on an original story by Tom Hardy and his father Chips Hardy who is also the show’s consulting producer.
No release date has yet been confirmed for the TV series.
