Paul Abbott, creator of Shameless, is working on a new crime drama, titled Wolfe, with Sky, the Comcast-owned British network, that will star Babou Ceesay (Guerrilla, Rogue One) as a “brilliant but flawed forensic pathologist,” according to Deadline. Wolfe will be officially announced Monday alongside the rest of Sky’s new slate, according to Deadline.
The series will co-star Amanda Abbington (Sherlock), Natalia Tena (Harry Potter), Naomi Yang (Lilting), Adam Long (Dunkirk, Happy Valley) and Shaniqua Okwok (Small Axe), and Abbott will lead a team of writers for the show, according to Deadline. His team will include Cat Jones, Georgia Lester, Furquan Akhtar and Freddy Syborn, per Deadline.
The series’ name comes from Ceesay’s character Professor Wolfe Kinteh, who despite his genius, has been kicked out of his home by his wife Val, played by Tena, according to Deadline. At work, Wolfe’s team includes single mom Dot (Abbington), child prodigy Maggy (Yang), entomologist Steve (Long) and new recruit with a “dark past,” Dominique (Okwok), according to Deadline.
Wolfe will be directed by Adrian Shergold, who directed crime series Mad Dogs, and Sean Spencer, who directed thriller film Panic, according to Deadline.
Abbott said the show will give “energy and insight with wit and attitude,” according to Deadline.
“I’ve loved creating the character of Wolfe,” Abbott said, according to Deadline. “I dredged a lot of my own flaws to get him onto the page. I can’t think of anyone better than Babou to breathe life into the guy.”
Wolfe is set to air on both Sky One and Now TV this fall, according to Deadline.