Major Cast Announced for Army of Shadows
Rivals star Alex Hassell and Game Of Thrones actor Kit Harington have been named among the cast of the upcoming Channel 4 drama Army of Shadows, which was recently filmed on Lark Lane in Liverpool. The six-part series, adapted by Ronan Bennett, also stars House Of The Dragon’s Paddy Considine and Barbie and Ugly Betty actress America Ferrera.
Filming on Lark Lane
Lark Lane was taken over on Wednesday, July 1, as dramatic scenes were filmed for the show. ECHO photographers captured armed officers emerging from a blacked-out van outside the Old Police Station. The series is inspired by Joseph Kessel's seminal book of the same name, a fictionalised account of the French resistance during World War II, but the setting has been changed to an authoritarian version of the UK in the near future.
Creative Team and Production
Ronan Bennett, renowned for his work on Top Boy, Mobland and Day of the Jackal, has adapted the series. Directed by Lisa Gunning, the series is co-produced by Studiocanal and Two Cities Television, with filming underway in Manchester, Liverpool, London and Paris. Gwawr Lloyd, interim head of drama at Channel 4, said: “Ronan Bennett has created a gripping, provocative and action-packed drama that feels both epic in scale and strikingly relevant. Army Of Shadows asks powerful questions about freedom, resistance and the choices people make when democracy is under threat.”
Previous Adaptation and Critical Acclaim
The upcoming show is not the first adaptation of Army of Shadows. Celebrated French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Melville released a film version in 1969 to great success. The film boasts a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is widely regarded as a masterpiece. Critics have praised it, with Slant Magazine calling it a masterpiece, the Financial Times branding it a blend of noir and wartime drama, and The Guardian giving it a five-star review. The film is available on StudioCanal Presents subscription service, accessible via Amazon Prime.
Executive Comments
Anna Marsh, chief executive at Studiocanal, said: “We are incredibly proud to have developed this series from inception, attaching an extraordinary cast and creative team to bring Army Of Shadows into production today.”
