A fresh detective series inspired by an unsettlingly good novel is heading to ITV. Featuring Outlander star Laura Donnelly and Trigger Point's Mark Rowley, The Dark has been adapted from GR Halliday's debut book, From the Shadows.
Plot and Setting
Filmed and set in Scotland, the chilling drama follows DI Monica Kennedy (Laura Donnelly) as she relentlessly pursues a deranged serial killer across the stunning Scottish landscape, working with her newly assigned partner DC Connor Crawford (Mark Rowley). Readers have described the book as unsettlingly good and impossible to put down, with one reviewer noting it introduces a major new Scottish crime series.
Release Details
ITV has announced that The Dark will premiere on ITV and STV next month, with streaming available on ITVX and STV Player. A 30-second teaser has been released, offering a first look at Detective Monica in action and the concealed killer ready to strike again.
Episode Summary
The six-episode series synopsis states: When the body of a young man is found eerily staged in the idyllic Scottish wilderness, detective Monica Kennedy fears this is just the beginning of a terrifying campaign that will strike the heart of a rural community. As paranoia rises, suspicions and secrets are forced into the light, and the locals realize a serial killer is hidden among them.
With her experience dealing with the darkest of humanity, Monica Kennedy quickly becomes entangled in a heightened game of cat and mouse with a cunning killer. Only she can stop this monster before he claims more victims. But when her own history creeps up on her, she begins to lose trust in her own judgment. Will her own actions be the biggest risk to herself and her family?
Production and Cast
Matt Hartley adapted The Dark, with production by Poison Pen Studios, part of ITV Studios. Author GR Halliday expressed excitement: I'm so thrilled and excited that Monica and co are coming to the screen! With so much talent on board, I know Matt and the Poison Pen team will do an amazing job in bringing the story, characters, and Scottish landscape to life.
Northern Irish actress Laura Donnelly has built her reputation through collaborations with playwright Jez Butterworth, featuring in Broadway productions of The River, The Ferryman, and The Hills of California. Her television credits include Outlander, Beowulf, and HBO's The Nevers. Scottish actor Mark Rowley first gained recognition on the soap River City, with subsequent roles in Home Fires, The North Water, The Spanish Princess, Trigger Point, and Netflix's The Witcher: Blood Origin.
The Dark filmed in and around Glasgow in 2025 and is set to air on ITV in July.
