Shardlake is an upcoming streaming television series made for Disney+, based on the Shardlake series of historical mystery novels by C. J. Sansom, set in the reign of Henry VIII in the 16th century. The series is adapted by Stephen Butchard and directed by Justin Chadwick and produced by The Forge. Arthur Hughes stars as the eponymous Matthew Shardlake, alongside Sean Bean as Thomas Cromwell.
Synopsis
During the dissolution of the monasteries in the Tudor era, Matthew Shardlake is sent by Thomas Cromwell to investigate the death of a commissioner in a remote town of Scarnsea.
Cast
Arthur Hughes as Matthew Shardlake
Sean Bean as Thomas Cromwell
Anthony Boyle as Jack Barak
Babou Ceesay as Abbot Fabian
Paul Kaye as Brother Jerome
Ruby Ashbourne Serkis as Alice
Production
Background
In January 2023 it was announced that
Disney+ had greenlit an adaptation of the Shardlake novels to be produced by The Forge, part of All3Media. The series consisting of four episodes is directed by Justin Chadwick from a script written by Stephen Butchard. John Griffin is producing the series, with executive producers George Ormond and Mark Pybus for The Forge, Stevie Lee for Runaway Fridge, and Lee Mason for Disney+.
Casting
Arthur Hughes was confirmed in the role of Shardlake with some reporting a change to the books series which posits Shardlake as considering himself unattractive, which contrasts to the confident image of Hughes on horseback revealed as a first look image by the series producers. Sean Bean was confirmed in the role of Thomas Cromwell.
Filming
By March 2023 principal photography had begun with filming locations including Hungary, Romania and Austria.