Tom Hollander, Niamh Algar to Star in Sky Thriller Series ‘Iris’ From ‘Luther’ Creator

Niamh Algar and Tom Hollander will lead the cast for Iris, a new Sky original thriller series that will begin filming this month in Sardinia.

Algar, of Mary & George and The Virtues, and Hollander (The White Lotus, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans), will lead the cast of what is described as a “sun-drenched chase thriller.”

The eight-episode series follows “a rootless but enigmatic genius, Iris Nixon (Algar) who steals a code from a charming philanthropist (Hollander) before vanishing.” A countdown to her capture begins as she attempts to find out just what the code could unleash.

Luther creator Neil Cross will serve as writer, creator and showrunner, while and Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul director Terry McDonough will be the lead director.

“All I wanted to do was to make a show I wanted to watch,” Cross said of the Sky Studios and Fremantle co-production. “‘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. With Niamh Algar and Tom Hollander bringing these complex characters to life, coupled with Terry McDonough’s direction, I couldn’t be more excited to share this world and these characters.”

Algar and Hollander will star alongside 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).

The show will be available on Sky and streaming platform NOW in the U.K., Ireland Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, while Fremantle will handle international sales of the series.  

Ireland-born Algar was nominated for a BAFTA for her role in Calm With Horses. Her recent credits include Wrath of Man and Censor.

Veteran actor Hollander, known for his performances in the likes of Pride and Prejudice, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Bohemian Rhapsody, has yet to confirm if he will rejoin the cast of The Night Manager, starring Tom Hiddleston, which is set to return for two more seasons.