The BBC has announced casting for "This City is Ours", the epic new crime drama now filming in Liverpool and Spain. The eight-part series is created and written by Stephen Butchard ("The Good Mother"s, "The Last Kingdom", "Five Daughters"), directed by Saul Dibb ("The Salisbury Poisonings", "The Sixth Commandment"), and produced by Left Bank Pictures for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Sony Pictures Television will distribute the series internationally.
This City is Ours (8x60) was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama. It was created by Stephen Butchard, who serves as lead writer, with Robbie O’Neill writing further episodes. The director is Saul Dibb ("The Salisbury Poisonings", "The Sixth Commandment"). The producer is Simon Maloney ("Peaky Blinders", "I May Destroy You"). Executive producers are Andy Harries, Rebecca Hodgson and Sian McWilliams for Left Bank Pictures, Stephen Butchard and Saul Dibb, and Jo McClellan for the BBC. Additional funding and support comes from the Liverpool Film Office through its Liverpool City Region Production Fund.
Two-time BAFTA TV Award-winning actor Sean Bean ("Marriage", "Time") will play gang leader Ronnie Phelan, with James Nelson-Joyce ("Bird", "A Thousand Blows") as Ronnie’s friend, Michael Kavanagh. Hannah Onslow ("Empire of Light", "This Is Going to Hurt") will play Diana Williams, Michael’s partner, and Jack McMullen ("Hijack", "Ford V Ferrari") plays Ronnie’s son, Jamie Phelan. Julie Graham ("Shetland", "Time") will play Elaine, head of the Phelan family alongside her husband Ronnie.
The title is the story of Michael, a man who for all of his adult life has been involved in organised crime, working for his friend and the gang leader Ronnie. When Ronnie begins to hint at retirement, Michael too begins to imagine another life. Because, for the first time in his life, Michael is in love. For the first time in his life, he sees beyond the day-to-day, he sees a future: something to win and something to lose - Diana.
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, highlighted each of the seasonings of the series: “It’s a joy to see cameras rolling on 'This City Is Ours' with a glorious cast who have made Stephen Butchard’s sublime scripts even more exciting. Under the skilful direction of Saul Dibb, BBC viewers are in for one hell of a ride;" commented.
FInally, Andy Harries, CEO of Left Bank Pictures and Executive Producer, predicted a great impact of the series on the audience: “Stephen Butchard is a master storyteller, and his scripts are sharp, fast-paced and brilliantly observed. He throws us in at the deep end with fascinating, multi-faceted characters and we have put together a top tier cast to bring them to life. 'This City is Ours' is going to blow the bloody doors off;" stated.
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