All of Us Strangers’ Jamie Bell will star as Niall, the estranged brother of Ruben, played by Gadd. The story will follow their tumultuous relationship while dissecting the meaning of ‘manhood’, starting with an apocalyptic row at Niall’s wedding. The narrative then rockets backwards, covering 40 years of their relationship, beginning with the two as teens in the 1980s. 

Playing the two in their younger years will be Mitchell Robertson (Curfew) and Stuart Campbell (SAS Rogue Heroes) as Niall and Ruben respectively.

Niall’s mother Lori will be played by Neve McIntosh (Bodies), with Marianne McIvor (Lady Chatterley’s Lover) as Ruben’s mother Maura.

Also joining the Half Man cast are Bilal Hasna (Extraordinary), Philippine Velge (Jurassic World Rebirth), Piers Ewart (The Primrose Railway Children), Scot Greenan (Mary Queen of Scots), Charlie De Melo (Rivals), Amy Manson (Estranged), Stuart McQuarrie (The Rig), Julie Cullen (Traces) and Charlotte Blackwood and Calum Manchip in their screen debuts.

Gadd says: “Having scoured far and wide and met some of the most amazing talent this country has to offer, I’m so pleased to have landed on the cast that we have. I cannot wait for all our actors, young and old, to bring these characters to life. I have every faith everyone will fall in love with these performers as much as I did.”

Tally Garner & Morven Reid from Mam Tor Productions say: “We are utterly delighted to have such a brilliant cast join Richard and Jamie on Half Man and bring the funny, filthy and furious world of Niall and Ruben to life.”

Half Man is made by Mam Tor productions for BBC One and HBO.

The six part series will hit screens in 2026.