Audiences are finally getting a glimpse of Richard Gadd’s new drama, “Half Man.”
The series marks Gadd’s return to the small screen after the blockbuster success of his 2024 series “Baby Reindeer.”
Gadd created, wrote, exec produced and stars in “Half Man,” described as a series about two brothers “not related in blood but the closest you can get. One, fierce and loyal. The other, meek and mild-mannered.”
In “Half Man,” which explores themes of brotherhood, violence and sex, Gadd plays the short-fused Ruben as an adult while Stuart Campbell (“SAS Rogue Heroes”) plays the younger version. Jamie Bell, who was last week revealed to be taking over from Barry Keoghan in “Peaky Blinders” sequel, plays Ruben’s step-brother of sorts Niall. Young Niall is played by Mitchell Robertson (“Curfew”).
The trailer shows the four men interacting in their respective timelines as it swiftly switches between the past and present while Tame Impala’s “Let It Happen” plays in the background.
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Starting with Niall’s wedding day, Ruben – clad in a black leather jacket and hoodie in contrast to the more traditionally outfitted guests around him – gets up to make a speech. “Hello. For those who don’t know me, I’m Ruben Pallister and I’m going to tell you about Niall Kennedy,” he says menacingly while Bell sits beside him, looking downcast. “I remember the first time I met him; he was only a kid.”
The trailer then cuts to Robertson in the car with his mother (Neve McIntosh) who tells young Niall that Ruben is moving into his room. Niall responds in horror: “What? No way! He’s a psycho!” In the next scene, to make the point, Campbell, as young Ruben, loudly barges into an exam hall by slamming the door open and shouting “Wooo!” disturbing all the students.
Then there’s a montage of scenes, including young Ruben with a flick knife, stamping on something repeatedly on the floor, screaming in pure rage, making the symbol of a gun with his fingers as he’s arrested and older Ruben in prison interspersed with shots of Niall, both younger and older, looking worried, running with fear, being bundled into a police car and involved in a car crash. Other scenes teased in the drama-packed trailer include a press conference, a funeral and police battering down a door.
The six-episode drama was shot on location in Glasgow, Scotland, with filming wrapping last year. It is directed by Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck. The show is set to release weekly from April 24 on Stan in Australia.
Check out the trailer below:
From Variety US