News / television
Christopher Walken to star in Stephen Merchant’s new Bristol drama
Oscar-winning actor Christopher Walken is among the cast of Stephen Merchant’s The Offenders, which is currently filming in Bristol and will have a score composed by Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja.
Filming has recently taken place in Sunny Bank in Speedwell for the drama series from the Hanham-born writer and director.
Due to be broadcast on BBC One and Amazon Prime Video, the series follows seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence in Bristol.
is needed now More than ever
As they become involved in each other’s lives, they also become involved with a dangerous criminal gang.
It will be the first lead British television role for 77-year-old Walken, who won the Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role in The Deer Hunter in 1978, and has also appeared in films including Pulp Fiction and Catch Me If You Can, as well as dancing in the video to Fatboy Slim’s Weapon of Choice.
Walken and Merchant are joined in The Offenders by Rhianne Barreto, Gamba Cole, Darren Boyd, Clare Perkins and Eleanor Tomlinson.
Merchant said: “Like so many other productions, we’d just begun filming when Covid-19 struck and we had to shut down.
“I’m delighted that we’re now finally able to resume filming with this incredible cast and finish this long-standing passion project. This is the first series I’ve made in my hometown of Bristol and I’m so excited to showcase the city and utilise the amazing local talent.”
A designated Covid-19 supervisor is on set at all times to look after the production’s safety precautions, with other measures in place including local crew and supporting artists where possible, regular testing, and strict zonal systems in place limiting the number of people on set both within the studio and on location.
Main photo: Miramax Films
Read more: Stephen Merchant helps launch new St Peter’s Hospice campaign
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