BBC One Goes for James Norton-Led Drama McMafia

LONDON: BBC One has commissioned the new eight-part crime drama McMafia, with James Norton set to play the lead.

Inspired by Misha Glenny’s best-selling book of the same name, the series will star Norton (War & Peace, Happy Valley) as Alex Godman, the English-raised son of Russian exiles with a mafia past. McMafia charts Alex’s journey through a labyrinth of international criminals, money launderers, corrupt politicians and ruthless intelligence agencies.

Hossein Amini (Drive) and James Watkins (The Woman in Black) created the drama, with Watkins also directing. Cuba Pictures is producing the series for BBC One.

Charlotte Moore, the director of BBC Content, said: “James Norton is at the top of his game and I know he will do justice to the riveting McMafia created by Hoss Amini and James Watkins.”

Nick Marston, the CEO of Cuba Pictures, said: “We are thrilled to have James Norton play Alex. Like so many others, we have been enjoying his tremendous performances over the past few years, so it is great to have the opportunity to work with him. We are also delighted that James Watkins is going to be directing the whole series. As a co-creator of the show, these terrific scripts could not be in better hands.”