‘Dirk Gently’: Samuel Barnett To Play Title Role In Max Landis’ BBC America Series
By: Nellie Andreeva
Date: March 29, 2016
Source: DeadlineI have learned that Samuel Barnett (Jupiter Ascending) has been cast as the lead opposite Elijah Wood in Dirk Gently, BBC America’s eight-episode series based on the cult Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency novels by Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy author Douglas Adams. Written by Max Landis, the series is set to debut in fall 2016. Dean Parisot has come on board to direct the first two episodes. Stargate franchise veteran Robert Cooper has been named showrunner.
Dirk Gently is a comedic thriller that follows the bizarre adventures of eccentric “holistic” detective Dirk Gently (Barnett) and his reluctant assistant Todd (Wood), as they wend their way through one big, seemingly insane mystery a season, crossing unlikely paths with a bevy of wild and sometimes dangerous characters, each episode landing them a few random steps closer to uncovering the truth.
The series is co-produced by AMC Studios, Ideate Media and comic book publisher IDW Entertainment with Circle of Confusion producing. Exec producers are Landis, whoDirk Gently Book wrote the project on spec; Cooper; Ideate’s Arvind Ethan David and Zainir Aminullah; IDW’s Ted Adams and David Ozer; and David Alpert and Rick Jacobs from Circle of Confusion.
In the four-episode BBC4 adaptation of Dirk Gently, which aired in 2010 and 2012, the title role was played by Stephen Mangan.
British actor Barnett is a two-time Tony Award nominee for his roles in Twelfth Night, in which he co-starred opposite Mark Rylance, and in The History Boys. He will next be seen on the upcoming season of John Logan’s Showtime series Penny Dreadful. Barnett is repped by ICM Partners and Independent Talent Group in the UK.
DIRK GENTLY: Deadline (March 29, 2016)
DIRK GENTLY: BBC AMERICA Press Release (March 29, 2016)
Samuel Barnett Cast In Title Role Of BBC AMERICA’s Dirk Gently
Date: March 29, 2016
Source: BBC America Press ReleaseROBERT COOPER NAMED SHOWRUNNER; DEAN PARISOT TO DIRECT FIRST TWO EPISODES
New original series is based on Douglas Adams’ comic novels
New York, NY – March 29, 2016 – BBC AMERICA announced today that stage, television and film actor Samuel Barnett (Twelfth Night, The History Boys, Penny Dreadful) has been cast in the title role of the network’s new original scripted series Dirk Gently, set to premiere in Fall 2016. The announcement comes on the heels of Elijah Wood (The Trust, Cooties, Wilfred) being cast in the role of “Todd”.
The network has announced that Robert Cooper (Stargate Atlantis, Stargate Universe) has been named series’ showrunner and Oscar-winning director Dean Parisot (Galaxy Quest, Justified, Masters of Sex) has signed on to direct the series’ first two episodes.
Penned by Max Landis – the mind behind cult classic Chronicle – Dirk Gently is an eight-part co-production of AMC Studios, IDEATE MEDIA and IDW Entertainment with Circle of Confusion producing.
“Dirk Gently’s characters are complete originals,” said Sarah Barnett, President and General Manager of BBC AMERICA. “Sam Barnett and Elijah Wood – who represent genius talent from both sides of the Atlantic – will brilliantly play these unique roles. Plus, with Robert Cooper and Dean Parisot joining Max Landis, the Dirk Gently creative team is now tremendously interconnected through great experience and thrilling vision.”
Dirk Gently is a comedic thriller that follows the bizarre adventures of eccentric “holistic” detective Dirk Gently and his reluctant assistant Todd, as they wend their way through one big, seemingly insane mystery a season, crossing unlikely paths with a bevy of wild and sometimes dangerous characters, each episode landing them a few random steps closer to uncovering the truth.
Dirk has strange, psychic abilities that enable him to sense invisible tangential connections. He’s taken these strange abilities and has invented a new profession for himself: that of “holistic detective,” a term that reflects his belief in the fundamental interconnectedness of all things. However, his abilities have condemned him to a life very much alone – this master of universal interconnectedness has spent a life ironically without human connection.
The series is an adaptation of Douglas Adams’ (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Doctor Who) wildly successful comic novels, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency and is set in the unexpected world of the hyper, absurd, eponymous detective Dirk Gently.
Samuel Barnett is a Tony and Olivier Award nominated English actor who has performed on stage, film, television and radio. His numerous credits include: Twelfth Night; The History Boys (a BBC Films/Fox Searchlight production); and a role in the upcoming season of the television series, Penny Dreadful.
Robert Cooper is an acclaimed writer and producer best known for his work on the Stargate franchise. He was formerly an executive producer of Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe. He also co-created both Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe with Brad Wright. Cooper has written, produced and directed many episodes of Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe.
Dean Parisot is an Oscar-winning American film and television director. He won the 1988 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for The Appointments of Dennis Jennings, which was co-written and starred comedian Steven Wright, with whom he shares the award. Among his television credits are episodes of Monk (including the two-hour pilot “Mr. Monk and the Candidate”), Masters of Sex, Northern Exposure and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
In addition to creator, Max Landis, executive producers include Ted Adams and David Ozer for IDW; David Alpert and Rick Jacobs for Circle of Confusion and Zainir Aminullah and Arvind Ethan David for IDEATE MEDIA.
Dirk Gently is the newest addition to BBCA’s scripted slate including Orphan Black, Doctor Who, Undercover, Thirteen, London Spy, The Living and The Dead, Luther and Class.
DIRK GENTLY: BBC AMERICA Press Release (March 22, 2016)
Elijah Wood Cast In BBC AMERICA’s Dirk Gently
Date: March 22, 2016
Source: BBC America Press ReleaseNew original series written by Max Landis
New York, NY – March 22, 2016 – BBC AMERICA announced today Elijah Wood (The Trust, Cooties, Wilfred) has been cast as “Todd” in the network’s new original scripted series Dirk Gently, set to premiere in Fall 2016. Penned by Max Landis – the mind behind cult classic Chronicle – the (8 x 60) series is a co-production of AMC Studios, IDEATE MEDIA and IDW Entertainment with Circle of Confusion producing.
Dirk Gently is a comedic thriller that follows the bizarre adventures of eccentric “holistic” detective Dirk Gently and his reluctant assistant Todd, as they wend their way through one big, seemingly insane mystery a season, crossing unlikely paths with a bevy of wild and sometimes dangerous characters, each episode landing them a few random steps closer to uncovering the truth.
He’s not a sidekick. Todd’s just flat out better than Dirk at a lot of things. He always attempts to solve matters with the fewest steps possible; despite being a compassionate, sweet, smarter-than-average man with biting wit, Todd often finds himself at the intersection of morally gray crossroads. Thus, his bad habits of lying and stealing have dire consequences that he can’t put off forever, even though he tries. Todd’s not a bad person. He’s not a good person yet, either, but he’ll get there.
As Todd describes himself to Dirk Gently: “I am not your Watson, asshole. I am not available for side-kicking on something I am not involved with. I am my own messed up person with my own messed up problems.”
The series is an adaptation of Douglas Adams’ (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Doctor Who) wildly successful comic novels, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency and is set in the unexpected world of the hyper, absurd, eponymous detective Dirk Gently.
In addition to creator, Max Landis, executive producers include Ted Adams and David Ozer for IDW; David Alpert and Rick Jacobs for Circle of Confusion and Zainir Aminullah and Arvind Ethan David for IDEATE MEDIA.
Dirk Gently is the newest addition to BBCA’s scripted slate including Orphan Black, Doctor Who, Undercover, Thirteen, London Spy, The Living and The Dead, Luther and Class.
DIRK GENTLY: Show Synopses
Below are the DIRK GENTLY synopses that have appeared on the BBC AMERICA website.
Date: March 22, 2016
BBC AMERICA announced today Elijah Wood (The Trust, Cooties, Wilfred) has been cast as “Todd” in the network’s new original scripted series Dirk Gently, set to premiere in Fall 2016. Penned by Max Landis – the mind behind cult classic Chronicle – the (8 x 60) series is a co-production of AMC Studios, IDEATE MEDIA and IDW Entertainment with Circle of Confusion producing.
Dirk Gently is a comedic thriller that follows the bizarre adventures of eccentric “holistic” detective Dirk Gently and his reluctant assistant Todd, as they wend their way through one big, seemingly insane mystery a season, crossing unlikely paths with a bevy of wild and sometimes dangerous characters, each episode landing them a few random steps closer to uncovering the truth.
He’s not a sidekick. Todd’s just flat out better than Dirk at a lot of things. He always attempts to solve matters with the fewest steps possible; despite being a compassionate, sweet, smarter-than-average man with biting wit, Todd often finds himself at the intersection of morally gray crossroads. Thus, his bad habits of lying and stealing have dire consequences that he can’t put off forever, even though he tries. Todd’s not a bad person. He’s not a good person yet, either, but he’ll get there.
As Todd describes himself to Dirk Gently: “I am not your Watson, asshole. I am not available for side-kicking on something I am not involved with. I am my own messed up person with my own messed up problems.”
The series is an adaptation of Douglas Adams’ (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Doctor Who) wildly successful comic novels, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency and is set in the unexpected world of the hyper, absurd, eponymous detective Dirk Gently.
In addition to creator, Max Landis, executive producers include Ted Adams and David Ozer for IDW; David Alpert and Rick Jacobs for Circle of Confusion and Zainir Aminullah and Arvind Ethan David for IDEATE MEDIA.
Dirk Gently is the newest addition to BBCA’s scripted slate including Orphan Black, Doctor Who, Undercover, Thirteen, London Spy, The Living and The Dead, Luther and Class.
Date: May 24, 2016
BBC AMERICA announced today the start of production on its highly anticipated new series, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. Penned by Max Landis and from the producers of The Walking Dead, the series is a comedic thriller that follows the bizarre adventures of eccentric “holistic” detective Dirk Gently (Samuel Barnett) and his reluctant assistant Todd (Elijah Wood). This season, Dirk and Todd wend their way through one big, seemingly insane mystery, crossing unlikely paths with a bevy of wild and sometimes dangerous characters, each episode landing them a few random steps closer to uncovering the truth. The series is an adaptation of Douglas Adams’ (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) wildly successful comic novels, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, and is set in the unexpected world of the hyper, absurd, eponymous detective. Filming in Vancouver runs through August and the series premieres Saturday, October 22nd on BBC AMERICA.
“Douglas Adams might have said we ended up with the cast we were meant to have. I’d add we’re extremely happy about it,” said showrunner Robert Cooper.
The series also stars Hannah Marks as Todd’s sister Amanda, a former rebellious punk riot grrl, now sidelined and housebound by a painful genetic disorder.
The latest additions to the cast include: Jade Eshete as Farah Black, the athletic, self-doubting, bad-ass, hyper competent but utterly anxious Security Officer to a billionaire; Mpho Koaho as Ken, a nerdy, friendly-faced tech trapped in increasingly difficult and bloody circumstances; Fiona Dourif as Bart Curlish, the terrifying, homicidal, deranged, fearless and nearly invincible self-identified “Holistic Assassin”; Michael Eklund as Martin, violent ring leader of the Rowdy 3 with an inexplicable sensitive side; Miguel Sandoval as Colonel Scott Riggins, beleaguered CIA head of a defunct secret bureau investigating the paranormal; Dustin Milligan as Sergeant Hugo Friedkin, Riggin’s subordinate, unpredictable, wildly ambitious and dangerous moron; and Aaron Douglas as Gordon Rimmer, an enigmatic loser with an impressive series of horrible secrets. Also joining the inaugural season is Neil Brown Jr. as Estevez and Richard Schiff as Zimmerfield, missing person’s detectives operating increasingly off book as they follow the trail of a complex and mystifying case. Additional casting for the series will continue over the course of production.
When asked about casting, show creator Max Landis responded: “I couldn’t be happier. We got such wonderful actors, it’s really a shame we’re killing so many of the characters.”
In addition to Max Landis and Robert Cooper, Dirk Gently’s executive producers include Ted Adams and David Ozer for IDW; David Alpert and Rick Jacobs for Circle of Confusion and Zainir Aminullah and Arvind Ethan David for IDEATE MEDIA. Oscar-winning director Dean Parisot will direct the series’ first two episodes.
Dirk Gently is the newest addition to BBCA’s scripted slate including Doctor Who, Orphan Black, Thirteen, Undercover, The Living and The Dead, London Spy, Luther and Class.
EVERYTHING. IS. CONNECTED!
Date: September 15, 2016
Corpses – cops – traps – cult – assassins – Pararibulitis – vampires – lottery ticket – kitten – corgi – everything is connected in this bizarre world. It all begins on the absolute worst day of Todd’s life. After his drug dealing landlord trashes his car, he trudges onto a Seattle bus to make it to his job as a bellhop. Dispatched to the hotel penthouse, the horrific scene of murdered millionaire, Patrick Spring, begets a peculiar chain of events that makes him a person of great interest…and gets him sacked from his job.
Enter Dirk Gently, the fast talking, eccentric detective hired to investigate the case. Dirk, whose philosophy hinges on the interconnectedness of all things, wholly believes he and Todd are destined to untangle the mystery together, and tries his hardest to convince Todd to embrace the madness because let’s face it, what else has he got going on… Once half-convinced, Todd’s world is infiltrated by a collection of wild and dangerous characters who further complicate his life, all because of Dirk Gently.
In addition to Todd’s ailing sister Amanda (Hannah Marks), a former punk-chick, now a Pararibulitis sufferer, there’s Farah Black (Jade Eshete), a security officer assigned to protect the murder victim’s daughter, and friend of Dirk Gently, The Rowdy 3 (Michael Eklund, Osric Chau, Viv Leacock and Zak Santiago), Yes, a quartet of psychic vampires who constantly target Dirk Gently, Zimmerfield (Richard Schiff) and Estevez (Neil Brown Jr.), detectives assigned to investigate the same complex case Dirk Gently was hired to investigate, Gordon Rimmer (Aaron Douglas), a loser cult leader with deep secrets, who’s lost dog is tied to the case, and Colonel Riggins (Miguel Sandoval), the leader of a failed CIA secret experiment and his idiot officer, Sergeant Friedkin (Dustin Milligan) who are ordered to capture Dirk Gently.
Far away from the city, Ken (Mpho Koaho) too is having a really bad day. While minding his business of hacking into a mainframe to make a few bucks, a seemingly deranged assassin, Bartine “Bart” Curlish (Fiona Dourif) insinuates herself into his life…after she tries to murder him…because she mistook him for Dirk Gently…without actually knowing if he was Dirk Gently…because Bart is not a very thorough assassin. But she is a holistic one, that kills whomever the universe tells her to. And you guessed it, it’s told her to kill Dirk Gently.
Each week, viewers will enter the escape room-esque mystery that’ll weave these characters together through seemingly innocuous events; somehow bringing everyone closer to solving the case of the murdered millionaire. And maybe, help to rid Todd of Dirk Gently, and restore his mundane, unvarying, shallow, depressed and boring, BORING sex life…
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency is an eight-part co-production of AMC Studios, IDEATE MEDIA and IDW Entertainment, with Circle of Confusion producing for BBC AMERICA. Max Landis writes and executive produces the series with Robert Cooper (Stargate Atlantis, Stargate Universe) serving as executive producer and showrunner, and Oscar-winning director Dean Parisot (Justified, Masters of Sex) serving as executive producer and director of the series’ first two episodes. Arvind Ethan David and Zainir Aminullah for IDEATE MEDIA executive produce along with Ted Adams and David Ozer for IDW and David Alpert and Rick Jacobs for Circle of Confusion. Kim Todd serves as producer.
DIRK GENTLY: Deadline (March 22, 2016)
Elijah Wood To Star In ‘Dirk Gently’ BBC America Series From Max Landis
By: Nellie Andreeva
Date: March 22, 2016
Source: DeadlineElijah Wood is set as the co-lead in Dirk Gently, BBC America’s eight-episode series based on the cult Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency novels by Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy author Douglas Adams. Written by Max Landis, the series is set to debut in fall 2016.
Dirk Gently is a comedic thriller that follows the bizarre adventures of eccentric “holistic” detective Dirk Gently and his reluctant assistant Todd (Wood), as they wend their way through one big, seemingly insane mystery a season, crossing unlikely paths with a bevy of wild and sometimes dangerous characters, each episode landing them a few random steps closer to uncovering the truth.
Dirk Gently BookTodd does not consider himself a sidekick. He is just flat-out better than Dirk at a lot of things. He always attempts to solve matters with the fewest steps possible; despite being a compassionate, sweet, smarter-than-average man with biting wit, Todd often finds himself at the intersection of morally gray crossroads. Thus, his bad habits of lying and stealing have dire consequences that he can’t put off forever, even though he tries. As Todd describes himself to Dirk: “I am not your Watson, a**hole. I am not available for side-kicking on something I am not involved with. I am my own messed up person with my own messed up problems.”
The series is co-produced by AMC Studios, Ideate Media and comic book publisher IDW Entertainment with Circle of Confusion producing. Exec producers are Landis, who wrote the project on spec; Ideate’s Arvind Ethan David and Zainir Aminullah; IDW’s Ted Adams and David Ozer; and David Alpert and Rick Jacobs from Circle of Confusion.
A four-episode adaptation of Dirk Gently starring Stephen Mangan aired on BBC4 in 2010 and 2012.
BBCA’s scripted slate also includes Doctor Who (considered a suitable companion for Dirk Gently), Orphan Black, Undercover, Thirteen, London Spy, The Living and The Dead, Luther and Class.
The Lord Of The Rings and Hobbit alum Wood toplined the FX series Wilfred.
DIRK GENTLY: BBC AMERICA Press Release (January 8, 2016)
BBC AMERICA Announces Greenlight of New Original Scripted Series Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency
Date: January 8, 2016
Source: BBC America Press ReleaseAdapted from Douglas Adams’ Bestselling series of Novels
Pasadena, California – January 8, 2016 – BBC AMERICA announced today the greenlight of new original scripted series Dirk Gently. The series is an adaptation of Douglas Adams’ (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Doctor Who) wildly successful comic novels, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency and is a set in the unexpected world of the hyper, absurd, eponymous detective Dirk Gently. The straight to series order includes eight one-hour episodes. Penned by Max Landis – the mind behind cult classic Chronicle – the series is a co-production of AMC Studios, IDEATE MEDIA and IDW Entertainment with Circle of Confusion producing.
Sarah Barnett, President of BBC AMERICA, commented, “Dirk Gently is a very original series, fresh and unlike anything else. The novels have legions of fans, and with Max Landis’ brilliant and audacious take on this material we are excited to bring Dirk to life for our BBCA super-fans.”
Dirk Gently, is a serialized comedic thriller that follows the bizarre adventures of eccentric “holistic” detective Dirk Gently and his reluctant assistant Todd, as they wend their way through one big, seemingly insane mystery a season, crossing unlikely paths with a bevy of wild and sometimes dangerous characters, each episode landing them a few random steps closer to uncovering the truth.
In addition to creator, Max Landis, Executive producers include Ted Adams and David Ozer for IDW; David Alpert and Rick Jacobs for Circle of Confusion and Zainir Aminullah and Arvind Ethan David for IDEATE MEDIA.
Today’s announcement underscores BBC AMERICA’S commitment to infectious, smart, culturally relevant original content. The network has a robust slate of originals ahead. Beginning on January 21, London Spy is a provocative and transfixing mystery-drama lead by all-star cast including BAFTA-winner Ben Whishaw, Academy Award winner Jim Broadbent and legendary actress Charlotte Rampling. Two new co-productions, Undercover and Thirteen, will also premiere in 2016, alongside the eagerly anticipated return of Top Gear starring Chris Evans, and landmark natural history series The Hunt presented by Sir David Attenborough. Season four of phenomenon Orphan Black continues production and will return in Spring 2016.
DIRK GENTLY: BBC AMERICA Press Release (July 31, 2015)
Note: The below is a snippet from the BBC America Press Release where DIRK GENTLY is mentioned. To read the full Press Release, click HERE.
BBC AMERICA Announces Two New Original Scripted Series And Original Scripted Development Slate
Date: July 31, 2015
Source: BBC America Press ReleaseBeverly Hills – July 31 2015 – BBC AMERICA today announced two new co-productions – the first co-developed series under the wide-ranging, creative partnership between BBC Worldwide and AMC Networks that was announced late last year.
Speaking at the Television Critics Association in Los Angeles, Sarah Barnett, President and General Manager, BBC AMERICA, also announced the first tranche of an extensive original scripted development slate including:
* Dirk Gently, an adaptation of Douglas Adams’ (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) wildly successful comic novel, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, is an anthology series set in the unexpected world of the hyper, absurd, ridiculous Dirk Gently. With an utterly fresh, comically self-aware tone, this series is equally sincere in its danger, humor, violence and drama. Penned by Max Landis – the mind behind cult classic Chronicle – this series is produced by IDW, Circle of Confusion and Ideate for BBC AMERICA.
DIRK GENTLY: Deadline (August 4, 2014)
IDW Entertainment & Ideate Media Option ‘Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency’ Novels For TV Series; Max Landis To Write Pilot
By: The Deadline Team
Date: August 4, 2014
Source: DeadlineIDW Entertainment and Ideate Media are teaming to bring Douglas Adams’ bestselling Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency novels to TV. IDWE and Ideate have optioned worldwide rights to the novels and have formed a partnership to co-fund development and co-produce with the intent of securing a direct-to-series commitment. Chronicle scribe Max Landis has been tapped to write the pilot, and will executive produce with Circle of Confusion (The Walking Dead).
Adams pennedIDWEntertainment-BLACK the Dirk Gently series after his comedy sci-fi phenom The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy. The novels center on detective Dirk Gently, who believes in the fundamental interconnectedness of all things, has Ideate Media 1a unique relationship with the laws of probability and physics and love of cats and pizza. Cursed with a relentless intellect, psychic powers he doesn’t fully understand or want, a gift for self-mythologizing, and a supernatural ability to detect disturbances in the fabric of reality, Dirk has found a strange calling as a private detective for impossible crimes.
“Alongside the obvious yadaMax Landis 1_edited-1 yada I’m a lifelong fan, Long Dark Teatime Of The Soul (the second Dirk Gently novel) is one of the best books ever,” said Landis. “Douglas Adams is a visionary who forever changed the way science fiction is written and talked about and even thought about and even the way real actual science is thought about and without whom our culture would be noticeably different for the worse.”
Landis, repped by WME, Behr Abramson Levy, and Circle of Confusion, penned upcoming features American Ultra and Frankenstein. He will also make his directorial debut with the comedy Me, Him, Her in 2015.
In addition to the television series, IDW and Ideate will develop a series of Dirk Gently comic books for release next spring.
Ted Adams and David Ozer from IDWE, Arvind Ethan David and Zainir Aminullah of Ideate, and David Alpert and Rick Jacobs from Circle of Confusion will serve as executive producers. Ideate’s David brokered the deal with the estate. Option was negotiated through Ed Victor at Ed Victor Ltd and CAA.