ITV is turning to the serial killer genre for its next big drama.
The broadcaster has greenlit an adaptation of GR Halliday’s novel From the Shadows titled The Dark, which comes from Ben Stephenson’s indie Poison Pen.
The Dark follows Scottish detective Monica Kennedy. When the body of a young man is found eerily staged in the idyllic Scottish wilderness, she fears this is just the beginning of a terrifying campaign that will strike the heart of a rural community. As paranoia rises, suspicions and secrets are forced into the light, and the locals start to realize there is a serial killer hidden amongst them. From the Shadows is the first in a trilogy featuring Dark Waters and Under the Marsh, leaving scope for ITV to think about a returnable series.
The show is being penned by Matt Hartley, a playwright who has previously written on EastEnders and Hollyoaks. It is the second ITV commission for ex-BBC drama chief Stephenson’s Poison Pen, following Adultery, which is being written by Danny Brocklehurst.
ITV drama boss Polly Hill said: “The Dark is a compelling new drama which introduces the fearless DI Monica Kennedy, who has to try and catch a serial killer in this really chilling Scottish story. Matt’s adaptation is brilliantly gripping and I am delighted to be adapting this novel with him and the team at Poison Pen.”
Stephenson, Preethi Mavahalli, Luke Woellhaf and Fern McCauley will executive produce alongside Hartley. Matt Brown will be producing the series, which also has Lena Rae and Nessah Muthy writing and Gilles Bannier as lead director and EP. The Dark will commence filming in and around Glasgow during 2025 and is produced in association with ITV Studios, which will distribute the series internationally. Halliday is repped by Catapult Rights acting in conjunction with Darley Anderson & Associates.
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