ITV Commissions Cary Grant Biopic

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ITV has commissioned the four-part drama Archie, based on Cary Grant’s life, from ITV Studios, with BritBox International as co-production partner.

Archie narrates the story of Archibald Alexander Leach’s troubled childhood in England and how extreme poverty, his father’s adultery and the loss of his older brother tore his family apart. The drama intercuts with scenes from 1961 at the height of his fame as Cary Grant, when he was desperately unhappy in his private life.

Jason Isaacs (Mass, The Death of Stalin, the Harry Potter franchise, Good Sam, The OA) is attached to star as Grant. Award-winning screenwriter Jeff Pope (The Widower, Mrs. Biggs, Philomena, Stan & Ollie) is penning the series. Paul Andrew Williams, who previously worked with Pope on A Confession, is set to direct.

The series is being produced with the blessing of Grant’s daughter Jennifer Grant and ex-wife Dyan Cannon. It will debut on ITVX but will air on ITV months later.

“There was only one Cary Grant, and I’d never be foolish enough to try to step into his iconic shoes,” Isaacs said. “Archie Leach, on the other hand, couldn’t be further from the character he invented to save himself. Jeff’s brilliant scripts bring to life his relentless struggle to escape the demons that plagued him, his obsessive need for control, his fears, his weaknesses, his loves and his losses. It’s the story of a man, not a legend, and those are shoes I can’t wait to walk in.”

Cannon commented, “Cary Grant touched the world with his charm, his grace and enduring vivacity, but few knew Archie Leach, the man I was fortunate to know intimately and marry. I’m so grateful Jeff Pope has captured him so brilliantly on the page and that Jason Isaacs will do the same on-screen!”

“My father was an extremely private man, so naturally, when Jeff Pope approached me with the idea to write Dad’s life story, I was trepidatious at best,” Jennifer Grant said. “Jeff’s thoughtfully intelligent understanding of Dad’s boyhood won me over. My father’s formative years as Archie Leach in Bristol, England, and the extraordinary challenges he faced lie at the heart of Archie. Cary Grant is emblematic of charm, wit and grace, but unknown to most are the enormous challenges he overcame to create himself.”

“As with many of my projects, I started at the end and worked backwards,” Pope noted. “I discovered that, at the height of his fame, Cary Grant retired to look after his young daughter. Intrigued, I started to dig into why he had become a single father. What had happened? My journey led me to Bristol and a young boy called Archie Leach. Cary Grant became one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century, beloved by presidents and paupers. The key to everything lay in his childhood.”

Polly Hill, head of drama for ITV, who will oversee production of the series, added, “Jeff’s scripts beautifully tell the story of Archie, the Bristol boy who was abandoned by his father and ran away to Hollywood, where remarkably he transformed and became Cary Grant. His story is emotional and surprising and Jeff’s scripts brilliantly explore the man behind the Hollywood legend, who will be played by the amazing Jason Isaacs. I am delighted to be working with Jeff and director Paul Andrew Williams once again on what will be a real treat for ITVX audiences.”

Diederick Santer said on behalf of BritBox International, “We are truly thrilled to be working with Jeff and Jason and ITV on this extraordinary story and are proud to be collaborating with these world-class talents. Jeff’s scripts are ambitious, surprising and hugely entertaining—qualities which will make Archie a delight for BritBox audiences all around the world.”