Gadd and BAFTA winning actor Jamie Bell (All of Us Strangers, Rocket Man) star as Ruben and Niall respectively. The two are seen in today’s new pictures alongside Mitchell Robertson (Curfew, Mayflies) and Stuart Campbell (SAS Rogue Heroes, The Winter King), who play Niall (Robertson) and Ruben (Campbell) in their younger years. Also seen in today’s pictures for the first time are Neve McIntosh (Tin Star, Chemistry of Death) as Niall’s mother Lori, and Marianne McIvor (Screw, The Nest) as Ruben’s mother Maura.
The updated synopsis for the six part series says: “Niall and Ruben are brothers. Not related in blood but the closest you can get. One, fierce and loyal. The other, meek and mild-mannered. Inseparable youth. Brought into each other’s lives through death and circumstance, all they have is each other…
But when Ruben turns up at Niall’s wedding three decades later, everything seems different. He is on edge. Shifty. Not acting like himself. And soon, an explosion of violence takes place which catapults us back through their lives, from the eighties to the present day. Capturing 30 years in the lives of these broken men, Half Man explores brotherhood, violence, and the intense fragility of male relationships. After all, when things fall apart… it is sometimes the closest relationships which break the hardest.”
Rounding out the cast for Half Man is Charlie De Melo (Rivals), Bilal Hasna (The Agency), Julie Cullen (Traces), Amy Manson (The Nevers), Anjli Mohindra (The Lazarus Project), Tim Downie (Outlander), Tom Andrews (Feel Good), Philippine Velge (The Serpent Queen), Stuart McQuarrie (The Rig), Sandy Batchelor (SAS Rogue Heroes) Piers Ewart (The Primrose Railway Children), Scot Greenan (T2 Trainspotting), and newcomers Charlotte Blackwood, Calum Manchip and Kate Robson-Stuart.
1. Half Man
Glasgow will play a central role in the drama. "“Half Man explores the highs and lows of Ruben and Niall’s relationship, from meeting them as troubled teenagers to witnessing their falling out as adults. The series will capture the wild energy of a changing city – a changing world, even – and plumb the depths of what it means to be a man.” | BBC
2. Half Man
Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning at BBC Scotland, says: “Half Man is a brilliant example of BBC Scotland’s ambition to bring high quality drama, rooted in Scotland, to audiences in Scotland, the UK and the world. We’re delighted to be announcing this exciting casting news today and look forward to seeing Richard and Jamie bring these complex and powerful characters to life.” | BBC
3. Half Man
BBC commissioned the Glasgow drama prior to the premiere of Baby Reindeer on Netflix, where it quickly became a global hit. HBO joined the project as a co-producer ensuring that Glasgow will be seen by an international audience. The series accessed £600,000 of funding through Screen Scotland’s Film Development and Production Fund. | BBC
4. Half Man
Announcing the show, Gadd said: "I am delighted to confirm I will be playing Ruben in the newly crowned Half Man for the BBC and HBO alongside the incomparable Jamie Bell”, Gadd says. “When I wrote the show, I did it with him in mind, never thinking for a second we would manage to land him. So I could not be happier for everything that has come to pass in getting him on board. He is one of the greatest actors of his generation and I am so looking forward to seeing what he does with the role." | BBC