Anna Friel has been cast in ITV’s latest crime drama Marcella which has been written by Hans Rosenfeldt, creator of the Swedish/Danish hit The Bridge.
The broadcaster describes Marcella as “Scandinavian noir on the streets of Britain” and says the eight-part drama will be told in “Rosenfeldt’s unflinchingly clear Nordic style, full of hooks and action.”
Returning to the Met’s Murder Squad after a 12-year career break, Marcella is a detective in her late 30’s who gave up her fast-tracked role to marry and devote her life to starting a family.
With the abrupt end to her marriage to the love of her life Jason and isolated from her daughter at boarding school, Marcella returns to work whilst attempting to make sense of what’s happened in her life.
By coincidence a spate of recent killings have occurred which bear the hallmarks of unsolved murders committed over a decade ago. Marcella is immediately assigned to the case she first worked on in 2003.
The killer was never detected and more bodies have been discovered with the same method of killing. Has the killer re-appeared or is a copycat murderer responsible for these recent deaths?
How will Marcella cope returning to duties when her own temperament is so fragile and vulnerable? Will throwing herself into her work provide the answers she’s seeking? Or lead her dangerously into territory she must evade at all cost?
Commenting on her casting, Friel said: “I’m thrilled to be working on Hans Rosenfeldt’s first English drama.
“Scandinavian storytelling is hugely inspiring but we Brits usually have to settle for doing a remake, so to be working with Hans on an original piece for ITV is a true privilege.
“Marcella is a complex woman and a wonderful layered character. Hans’ marvellous scripts have drawn a fantastic cast and crew together. I can’t wait to begin.”
Filming gets underway in London and surrounding areas later this month.
