Apple TV announces Academy Award, Golden Globe, SAG and BAFTA Award Winner Colin Firth cast as ‘Paul Lohser’ in new untitled drama

Based on "Metropolis" from Philip Kerr's globally bestselling book series "Berlin Noir"

Apple TV announces Academy Award, Golden Globe, SAG and BAFTA Award winner Colin Firth (“A Single Man,” “The Staircase”) cast as ‘Paul Lohser’ in new untitled drama based on “Metropolis” from Philip Kerr’s globally bestselling book series “Berlin Noir,” hailing from Bad Wolf (“Industry”) and Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman’s PlayTone (“Masters of the Air”). Adapted by Academy Award, Golden Globe and BAFTA Award-winning writer and executive producer Peter Straughan (“Conclave,” “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,” “Wolf Hall”), the series is directed by Emmy and BAFTA Award nominee Tom Shankland (“House of Guinness,” “The Leopard,” “SAS: Rogue Heroes,” and “The Serpent”), who also executive produces. Firth joins the previously announced Emmy and BAFTA Award nominee Jack Lowden (“Slow Horses,” “Dunkirk”) cast in the leading role. The series is currently filming in Berlin.

The “Berlin Noir” book series features the iconic detective, Bernie Gunther, and this adaptation begins with “Metropolis” and his origin story in 1928. Bernie is a police officer, newly promoted to the intimidating and elite Berlin Murder Squad, and must investigate what seems to be a serial killer targeting victims on the fringes of society. Bernie’s Berlin is a city of unprecedented freedom and dizzying turbulence, the Nazis just a distant nightmare waiting in the wings. With the political and social world shifting to a new norm, we see Bernie fighting for truth, whatever the cost.

Jane Tranter, Dan McCulloch and Ryan Rasmussen executive produce for Bad Wolf, alongside Peter Straughan.

Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman executive produce for PlayTone.

Philip Kerr is the author of fourteen Bernie Gunther novels, translated into many languages and bestsellers in the US and the UK. He finished “Metropolis” shortly before he died from cancer in 2018 so it is both the first and last Bernie novel. His widow, the novelist Jane Thynne, owns the copyright in the Bernie Gunther novels through their company Thynker Ltd c/o United agents. Thynne also serves as consulting producer.

Photo credit: Mariano Vivanco.