Yahoo News Line of Duty and Game of Thrones stars join Alex Rider TV show
Update (April 25, 2019): More stars have joined the cast of the Alex Rider TV series.
Following the news that Otto Farrant will play the title role, it's been confirmed that he'll be joined by Line of Duty's Vicky McClure, Broadchurch's Andrew Buchan and Game of Thrones' Stephen Dillane.
Buchan will star as Alex’s uncle Ian, Dillane will play Alan Blunt – the head of secret MI6 offshoot The Department who sends Alex on a secret mission – and McClure is his second-in-command Mrs Jones.
Also joining the cast are McClure's Line of Duty co-star Ace Bhatti and actress Nyasha Hatendi as Mrs Jones’s workmates John Crawley and Smithers.
Plus, Dillane's fellow Game of Thrones actor Brenock O’Connor will play Alex’s best friend Tom, and Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo (Doctor Who) will be Alex’s housekeeper Jack Starbright.
Original (April 23, 2019): Sony Pictures has found the young actor who will play teen spy Alex Rider in the upcoming TV adaptation.
Author Anthony Horowitz teased that an announcement was coming earlier this week by sharing a photo of the actor taking on the role with his face covered by an Alex Rider book.
"World exclusive. First photo of TV’s new Alex Rider having lunch with me. (All I’m allowed to show - but more tomorrow)," he wrote.
World exclusive. First photo of TV’s new Alex Rider having lunch with me. (All I’m allowed to show - but more tomorrow). pic.twitter.com/msSYsyyGrD
- Anthony Horowitz (@AnthonyHorowitz) April 22, 2019
And today (April 23) it's been confirmed that the role will be taken on by Otto Farrant, who was most recently seen playing Nigel Wilson in BBC drama Mrs Wilson.
Farrant has also appeared in the 2016 BBC adaptation of War and Peace, as well as Marcella, The White Queen and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.
Speaking about Farrant's casting, director Andreas Prochaska said: "We met a lot of people for the role of Alex Rider, but when Otto entered the room, there was something magical about him.
"He has the perfect combination of youth and skilfulness, innocence and professionalism, to bring this iconic character to the screen."
The show will be based on Anthony Horowitz's series of books and will be adapted by The Hole writer Guy Burt. It will begin with Point Blanc, the second book in Horowitz's series.
The series was previously adapted into a film in 2006, titled Stormbreaker, which starred Magic Mike actor Alex Pettyfer, but due to bad box office takings, planned sequels never materialised.
Speaking about the TV series last year, Horowitz, who will act as an executive producer, said: "So many Alex Rider fans have been asking me when he would be returning to the screen – and I couldn't be more excited that it's finally happening.
"Guy Burt has perfectly captured the danger and excitement of the books and I'm sure the series will have universal appeal."
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