The Beast Must Die Season Two for BritBox UK

A second season of BritBox UK’s original scripted drama The Beast Must Die is now in development with New Regency Television and Ridley Scott’s Scott Free.

The first two episodes of the five-part series launched on BritBox on May 27 and became the best-performing launch of 2021 to date. The second season in development, entitled A Sword in My Bones, is based on an original story created by screenwriter Gaby Chiappe (The Beast Must Die, Shetland, Vera). Billy Howle (The Serpent, MotherFatherSon, On Chesil Beach) is set to return to the role of Detective Nigel Strangeways.

A contemporary revenge thriller set on the Isle of Wight, The Beast Must Die centers on the aftermath of the hit and run of a six-year-old boy. His mother (Cush Jumbo; The Good Wife, The Good Fight, Deadwater Fell) is intent on avenging his death, and the only thing keeping her going is the desire to hunt down and kill the man she believes is responsible. The troubled- yet-brilliant Detective Strangeways (Howle) is on a mission to deliver justice.

Howle said: “I am thrilled by the reception to The Beast Must Die. A lot of hard work by all the cast and crew went into making the first original drama for BritBox, during a pandemic, and it seems to have paid off. I would relish the opportunity to take on the role of Strangeways again and am really excited by the prospect of this next chapter.”

Will Harrison, BritBox UK managing director, commented: “We are all immensely proud of our first original, scripted drama and the reception it has received from critics and subscribers alike. We are working closely with our partners at Scott Free and New Regency to explore what may lie in store for Detective Strangeways.”

Ed Rubin, head of New Regency Television International, and Marina Brackenbury, executive producer at Scott Free UK, said: “We’re delighted by the response to The Beast Must Die, and Billy’s towering performance leaves us with a really exciting opportunity to delve further into DI Strangeways in a compelling new story. Harnessing a similar emotional intensity and thriller pulse to season one, A Sword in My Bones will offer up even greater narrative scope, a terrific new cast of characters and a whole new cinematic setting.”