Paapa Essiedu, who has just landed the role of Snape in HBO’s Harry Potter, is leading Channel 4 drama series Falling from Adolescence co-creator Jack Thorne and It’s a Sin director Peter Hoar.
Hot property Essiedu will play Catholic priest David opposite Keeley Hawes, who is devoted nun Anna. Both are deeply committed to their work in the church and in their community. Neither are expected to fall in love. But when they do, both are forced to wrestle with what it means for them, their vows, and their relationship with God.
Also joining the cast of Falling from Banijay-backed The Forge are Rakie Ayola (The Pact, Kaos), Jason Watkins (Coma, The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies), Niamh Cusack (The Virtues, Heartbeat), Adrian Scarborough (Gavin and Stacey, The Chelsea Detective), David Dawson (My Policeman, The Last Kingdom), Susan Brown (Mr Bates vs The Post Office, It’s A Sin), Sandra Voe (Howards End, Vera Drake) and TV newcomers Holly Rhys and Shayde Sinclair.
Watch on Deadline
Essiedu said: “Falling is a story that has Jack Thorne’s singular talent of mining the sublime out of the ordinary running all the way through. I can’t wait to work with Keeley, Peter and the rest of the team to bring this world to life.”
Essiedu has just been confirmed to play potions master Snape in HBO’s decade-long Harry Potter remake following months of speculation. He has recently appeared in The Outrun, Black Doves and Black Mirror. Thorne is coming off the back of the runaway success of Netflix’s Adolescence, which has become the streamer’s third most popular English-language show of all time in the space of just a few weeks. Bodyguard star Hawes can soon be seen in Amazon thriller The Assassin opposite Freddie Highmore.
Landing Essiedu and Hawes is a big coup for Channel 4 and new film and TV drama chief Ollie Madden. He unearthed Falling on a splashy slate earlier this year featuring A Woman of Substance remake and a Universal adaptation of The Rachel Incident.
Falling is executive produced by George Ormond, George Faber and Thorne. Joe Donaldson (Cobra, Ripper Street, Peaky Blinders) is the producer and Hoar (It’s A Sin, The Last of Us, Umbrella Academy) will direct. Falling has been commissioned for Channel 4 by Madden, Director of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama and Gwawr Lloyd, Commissioning Editor, Drama. Falling will be distributed internationally by Banijay Rights.
The post Fresh From His Professor Snape Casting, Paapa Essiedu Lands Role As Catholic Priest Falling In Love In Jack Thorne’s Channel 4 Drama ‘Falling’ Opposite Keeley Hawes appeared first on Deadline.
