Colin Firth has been cast opposite Jack Lowden in Apple TV's untitled project based on Metropolis from Philip Kerr's bestselling Berlin Noir book series, Deadline reported. Peter Straughan wrote the adaptation, which is directed by Tom Shankland. Produced by Bad Wolf and Tom Hanks & Gary Goetzman's PlayTone, the untitled series is currently filming in Berlin.
The 14-book series features detective Bernie Gunther. Apple TV's adaptation "begins with Metropolis and his origin story in 1928," Deadline wrote. "Bernie (Lowden) is a police officer, newly promoted to the intimidating and elite Berlin Murder Squad, and must investigate what seems to be a serial killer targeting victims on the fringes of society. Bernie's Berlin is a city of unprecedented freedom and dizzying turbulence, the Nazis just a distant nightmare waiting in the wings. With the political and social world shifting to a new norm, we see Bernie fighting for truth, whatever the cost." Firth will play Paul Lohser, a detective with the Berlin Police.
Kerr's widow, novelist Jane Thynne, who owns the copyright in the Bernie Gunther novels through their company Thynker Ltd c/o United agents, serves as consulting producer.