FilminghasbegunonBloodlands,amajororiginalcrimedramaforBBCOne,createdbyexcitingnewwriterChrisBrandonandproducedbyHTMTelevision(co-ownedbyJedMercurioandHatTrickProductions).JoiningJamesNesbitt(TheMissing,ColdFeet)inthedramaareLisaDwan(TopBoy,Trust),LorcanCranitch(Fortitude,TheDig),CharleneMcKenna(RipperStreet,ViennaBlood),IanMcElhinney(DerryGirls,GameOfThrones),LolaPetticrew(MyLeftNut,ComeHome),ChrisWalley(TheYoungOffenders,1917),MichaelSmiley(Luther,DeathandNightingales),KathyKieraClarke(DerryGirls,ThePaleHorse),andSusanLynch(HappyValley,SaveMe).WhenacarcontainingapossiblesuicidenoteispulledoutofStrangfordLough,NorthernIrishpolicedetectiveTomBrannick(JamesNesbitt)quicklyconnectsittoaninfamouscoldcasewithenormouspersonalsignificance.Bloodlandsfollowshishuntforthelegendaryassassinknownas'Goliath',anexplosivecat-and-mousegamewherethestakeshaveneverbeenhigher.AdditionalcastincludePeterBallance,AsanN’Jie,CaraKellyandFloraMontgomery.BloodlandsisChrisBrandon’sfirstoriginaldramaseriescommissionandthefirstdramafromnewlyformedproductioncompanyHTMTelevision.ItwascommissionedbyPiersWenger,ControllerofBBCDramaandCharlotteMoore,ControllerofBBCContent.TheexecutiveproducersareJedMercurio,JimmyMulvilleandMarkRedheadforHTMTelevisionandTommyBulfinfortheBBC.JedMercurio,ExecutiveProducerforHTMTelevision,says:“HTMTelevisionishonouredsuchaprestigiouscastwillbringtolifeChrisBrandon'sthrilling,thought-provokingseriesBloodlands.”TommyBulfin,BBCCommissioningEditor,NorthernIreland,says:“We’redelightedthatsuchanincrediblecast,includingsomeofNorthernIreland’sfinestactingtalent,havecometogetherforBloodlands.”DirectedbyPeteTravis(Omagh,TheGo-Between)andproducedbyChristopherHall(TheDurrells,Critical),BloodlandsisproducedwithfundingfromNorthernIrelandScreen.FilmingistakingplaceinandaroundBelfastandStrangfordLough.
