Christina Hendricks and Naomie Harris have been cast as leads in “Reputation,” an upcoming BBC legal drama centered on celebrities.
This six-part series, produced by The Forge under Banijay U.K., features Harris, known for “Skyfall,” as Lena, a top-tier lawyer. Her character is tasked with defending international pop star Davina Knight, portrayed by “Mad Men” actress Hendricks, in a high-profile celebrity legal battle.
Joining the cast are Emily Atack from “Rivals” and Kyle Soller from “Andor,” who takes on the role of Knight’s husband, Billy.
According to the synopsis, the plot unfolds as Davina releases a daring song that accuses her ex-husband, Billy, of abusive behavior. His counteractions lead to a highly publicized libel case. Beyond the courtroom drama, PR strategies, legal loopholes, and social media platforms play pivotal roles, transforming into arenas for public opinion and distorting the truth.
The ensemble cast includes Alex Jennings (“The Crown”), David Gyasi (“The Diplomat”), Marli Siu (“Twenty Twenty Six”), Alex Heath (“Serpent Queen”), Tilly Keeper (“You”), Corey Johnson (“The Day of the Jackal”), Aidan McArdle (“Sherlock & Daughter”), Ernest Kingsley Jnr (“Washington Black”), Jodie Campbell (“Boarders”), Kayla Meikle (“Transaction”), Mike Noble (“This City is Ours”), Enzo Cilenti (“Black Mirror”), and Kat Ronney (“Dinosaur”).
Anya Reiss, known for “Becoming Elizabeth,” serves as the writer and executive producer of the series, which is currently in production. Although the release date is yet to be announced, the show will be available on BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Banijay Rights is handling global sales.
Harris expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, “I was hooked from page one of ‘Reputation.’ It’s so rare to read scripts with the wit and flair of Anya’s writing and I knew straight away that I wanted to play Lena.”
Hendricks shared her excitement as well, saying, “Davina’s a fantastic, fierce character. I’m so looking forward to working with Naomie and I’m delighted to be working again with the Forge.”
Harris is represented by The Artists Partnership, WME, Untitled Entertainment, and Johnson, Slewett, Shapiro and Kole. Hendricks is represented by LINK, Independent, and IAG.
“Reputation” was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, the BBC’s director of drama. The production is spearheaded by Alex Kazamia as producer and Mahalia Belo as director. Executive producers include Belo, George Ormond, and Jade Taylor, with additional writing by Shyam Popat and Karla Crome.
