Sophie Turner To Play Joan Hannington in ITVX Drama About UK’s Most Notorious Jewel Thief [photo credit: Mary McCartney]
Created for television by acclaimed screenwriter Anna Symon (‘Mrs Wilson’, ‘The Essex Serpent’, ‘Deep Water’) from Joan’s memoirs, ‘Joan’ is the true story of her meteoric rise from petty offender to highly talented diamond thief and criminal mastermind. Anna met with Joan Hannington whilst writing the series, and the drama will be filmed in London in the spring of 2023.
“I’m so excited to be bringing Joan Hannington’s fascinating life story to screen in Joan,” said Sophie Turner, who takes on the lead role. “She is one of the most notorious figures in the criminal underworld of London, earning her the nickname “The Godmother.” A woman who goes between her thriving and daring career as a jewel thief, all whilst trying to get her daughter back from social services, we see a mother in despair swept up in the exhilarating world of crime.”
Turner, is, of course, best known for playing Sansa Stark in HBO’s epic fantasy drama ‘Game Of Thrones’. She also played the young Jean Grey in a number of Fox’s ‘X-Men’ films, appeared in the drama ‘The Staircase’, based on the true crime docuseries of the same name, and starred opposite Corey Hawkins in the Quibi (now Roku) series ‘Survive’.
We’re first introduced to Joan in her twenties, a fiery, uncompromising, and intoxicating character, who is not without her own deep scars and vulnerability, as a doting and loving young mother to 4-year-old Debbie. She’s in a disastrous marriage to a violent thug, and when he goes on the run, Joan seizes the moment to leave her old life.
Inspired by her desire to care for Debbie and create a secure home for her daughter, Joan makes some heart-breaking decisions as she sets her sights on a better life.
Making full use of her sharp intelligence, charm, and her talent for impersonation and performance, we follow the twists and turns in Joan’s life, the ups and downs, the heartache and the joy, which makes her story a compelling television drama.
‘Joan’ will be executive produced by Ruth Kenley-Letts (‘Stonehouse’, ‘The Midwich Cuckoos’, ‘Strike’), CEO of Snowed-In Productions, Jenny Van Der Lande (‘Strike’, ‘You Don’t Know Me’, ‘Too Close’) Creative Director of Snowed-In and Neil Blair (‘The Midwich Cuckoos’, ‘Strike’, ‘Fantastic Beast: The Secrets of Dumbledore’) Chairman of Snowed-In and directed by BAFTA award-winning Director, Richard Laxton (‘The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe’, ‘Honour’, ‘Mrs Wilson’). Paul Frift (‘Anansi Boys’, ‘Deep State’, ‘Good Omens’) will produce the drama.
“Joan’s story is incredible, making a success of life when the stakes seem stacked against her, by not playing by the rules,” adds ITV’s Head of Drama, Polly Hill. “Anna’s scripts are brilliant and a perfect fit for ITVX and I can’t wait to see Sophie Turner step into Joan’s shoes. Set in the 80s with Richard Laxton directing and Ruth Kenley-Letts and Snowed-In producing, this is a great story with a great team bringing it to screen.”
‘Joan‘ does not yet have a premiere date, but will begin filming in Spring 2023 for ITVX. If you want to keep track of this or any other show, you can add it via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
