Ben Whishaw will be taking up a role a far cry from Paddington Bear, as himself and Happy Valley’s Sarah Lancashire are joining Keira Knightley in Netflix’s new Christmas-adjacent spy thriller.
Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean) stars as Helen Webb – devoted mother, wife, and spy. For years Webb has been leaking her politician husband’s government secrets to her spy organisation, The Black Doves. When Webb’s lover Jason is suspiciously murdered, she turns to an old friend, Sam Young (Whishaw) – an assassin whose dark past is swiftly catching up with him.
Set against a backdrop of London in full Christmas swing, the two begin solving the murder, uncovering a web of conspiracies in the process that all lead towards an impending geopolitical crisis.
Variety revealed that Lancashire will take the role of Webb’s spymaster, Reed. The supporting cast will include Andrew Buchan (Better), Omari Douglas (It’s a Sin), Andrew Koji (Bullet Train) and Harry Potter’s Kathryn Hunter.
Also joining the cast are Chernobyl's Sam Troughton, Ella Lily Hyland (Fifteen-Love), Adam Silver (The Diplomat), Ken Nwosu (Christopher Robin) and In My Skin's Gabrielle Creevy.
Black Doves is written by Joe Barton (Giri/Haji).
Filming commenced in October 2023, but no release date is currently set.
