Tom Hollander & Niamh Algar Leading Neil Cross's Iris For Sky

Niamh Algar, Tom Hollander — Niamh Algar (left) Tom Hollander Joseph Seresin

Niamh Algar (Mary & George) and Tom Hollander (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans) are leading a Sky thriller series about a code-breaking genius from Luther creator Neil Cross.

Described by its creator as “unapologetically exciting,” Iris will start shooting later this month in Sardinia and follow the titular character, a rootless and enigmatic genius who steals a code from charming philanthropist Cameron McIntyre (Hollander) and goes on the run. Armed only with her lethal intelligence and chameleonic charm, the clock is ticking for her to work out what the code could unleash before she is found.

Joining the cast alongside Algar and Hollander are newcomer Meréana Tomlinson (The Trials), Sacha Dhawan (The Great, Doctor Who), Maya Sansa (Good Morning Night, Dormant Beauty), Peter Sullivan (Poldark, The Borgias) and Debi Mazar (Younger, Entourage).

Algar is well known to Sky viewers having recently appeared as Sandie in period drama Mary & George. Hollander garnered rave reviews for his role as Quentin in Season 2 of HBO’s The White Lotus.

The series comes from Cross, best known for creating BBC smash Luther starring Idris Elba, and will be directed by Terry McDonough (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul). Iris is a Sky Studios and Fremantle co-production.

“All I wanted to do was to make a show I wanted to watch,” said Cross. “Iris is an unapologetically exciting, witty, chase-driven adventure show and features a lead character the like of which I don’t think we’ve ever met before on TV.”

Wildside is providing production services in Italy. The series is directed by McDonough and Sarah O’Gorman, and the SP is Tim Bricknell. Susan E. Connolly and Ian Scott McCullough are writing episodes. EPs are Cross, McDonough; Dante Di Loreto and Jenni Sherwood for Fremantle, and Adrian Sturges for Sky Studios. Sky has UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria rights and Fremantle will sell internationally.

Algar is repped by Independent Talent Group, UTA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein.