ITV has commissioned ‘Nightswimming‘, a new thriller starring Lennie James (‘Mr Loverman’, ‘Save Me’, ‘The Walking Dead’) as a man trying to uncover the truth behind the brutal murder of his family. And with Harry and Jack Williams behind the scripts, it sounds like there will be plenty of secrets lurking beneath the surface.
Set in Portugal, the drama follows Matthew, who was convicted of murdering his wife, Beth, and their two teenage sons, Alex and Simon, a decade earlier. On the night of the killings, Matthew was out in the ocean enjoying his usual nightly swim, while his family was attacked inside their beachfront home.
Now, Matthew returns to Portugal to launch his own investigation into the crime that destroyed his life. He finds himself confronting old friends, reopening broken relationships and questioning the people who built the case against him. But as the story moves between past and present, Matthew begins to discover that someone much closer to home helped put him behind bars. Proving his innocence might be even more complicated than he imagined.
The Williams brothers certainly know their way around a twisty thriller. Through their production company Two Brothers Pictures, they have been behind dramas including ‘The Missing’, ‘Baptiste’, ‘The Tourist’, ‘Liar’ and ‘The Assassin’. Their latest promises another morally complicated mystery, with a central character who may not have all the answers himself.
Lennie James said: “I am very excited about getting going on Nightswimming. It’s a juicy, grown-up thriller about family, love, loss, betrayal, redemption and the price of justice. Matthew is the kind of character I love to play, full of complexity, contradiction and conviction. This is top-notch storytelling, and I’m chuffed to be a part of it.”
Harry and Jack Williams added: “We absolutely relished writing Nightswimming, it’s a small-town thriller with a morally murky edge, grounded in a knotty, complex character. We can’t wait to work with ITV again and to see what Lennie – who we are thrilled to have on board – does with ‘Matthew’ when we begin filming in Portugal next year.”
Filming on ‘Nightswimming’ is due to begin in Portugal in spring 2027. ITV’s Director of Drama, Polly Hill, commissioned the series and will oversee production for the broadcaster. The Williams brothers, Daisy Mount, Sarah Hammond and Lennie James will executive produce, with Cleo Hetherington as co-executive producer, Georgina Lowe producing and Kelly Valentine-Hendry handling casting. Banijay Rights will distribute the drama internationally.
‘Nightswimming‘ is coming to ITV, with no UK premiere date announced yet.
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