According to Deadline, Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Dunkirk) appears to be reuniting with Apple for a much anticipated series. The Emmy-nominated actor will star in an untitled series that is based on Metropolis, from Philip Kerr (The Pale Criminal, March Violets)’s globally bestselling Berlin Noir book series. 

Furthermore, BAFTA nominee Tom Shankland (The Children, The Leopard) will direct and executive produce this Apple TV+ series, which has been in the works since April. Peter Straughan (Conclave, Frank), Adapted Screenplay Oscar-winner for Conclave, will showrun and executive produce. Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, A Man Called Otto) and Gary Goetzman (Yours, Mine and Ours, Greyhound) will executive produce through their Playtone banner. Apple and Playtone teamed up recently on the World War II series Masters of the Air. This series will be filmed in Berlin, Deadline adds. 

The Berlin Noir book series is about the iconic detective Bernie Gunther, the adaptation beginning with Metropolis and Gunther’s origin story in 1928.  He is a newly promoted police officer to the elite and formidable Berlin Murder Squad, and he must investigate what appears to be a serial killer targeting victims on the edges of society. Berlin is a city of unprecedented freedom and turbulence, and the Nazis are just a distant nightmare awaiting to arise. Bernie fights for truth, no matter the cost, in this socially and politically unstable world, Deadline notes. 

Deadline states that Dan McCulloch (Torchwood, The Stronger), Jane Tranter (The Giggle, Love, Honour and Obey), and Ryan Rasmussen (His Dark Materials, Industry) are executive producing for Bad Wolf. 

Kerr’s 14 Bernie Gunther novels are bestsellers in the U.S. and UK and are translated into many languages. He finished Metropolis shortly before he passed away from cancer in 2018, so it is both the first and last Bernie novel. Novelist Jane Thynne (Midnight in Vienna, Black Roses), his widow, owns the copyright to the books through their company Thynker Ltd ℅ United agents, as mentioned by Deadline. 

Apple and Lowden have solid ties after the triumphs of the Emmy-winning drama series Slow Horses, which received many accolades and got Lowden a supporting actor Emmy nomination in 2024. The recent Season Five of this British spy series will premiere September 24, Deadline says. 

Currently, Deadline adds, Lowden is filming the Pride & Prejudice series for Netflix, starring Emma Corrin (Nosferatu, The Crown) and Olivia Colman (The Crown, The Favourite). He is repped by UTA in the U.S., and Conway van Gelder Grant in the UK, Deadline notes. 

Shankland, who most recently directed the Netflix series House of Guinness starring Anthony Boyle (Say Nothing, Manhunt) is repped by Hugo Young and Independent Talent Group. Moreover, Straughan is repped by CAA and Casarotto Ramsay, Deadline finally states.