Though apparently only willing or able to commit to four of the eight parts, Nyholm seems excited about the project. “This is a wonderful character-driven tale, and is very much the kind of dark, multifaceted world of drama and intrigue that I’m drawn to,” he said. “For me, it feels like a natural follow on from The Killing and The Enfield Haunting. We have a fantastic team on board to help bring it to life, and I look forward to that process.”
The cast will be led by Hardy as James Keziah Delaney and some of the intrigue will stem from his father’s legacy. After a 10-year absence, Delaney will return to London from Africa, seeking revenge against his father’s killers. Over the course of the series, he’ll also try to expand his family business into shipping, as well as find himself in conflict with the East India Company. All of this will take place in the midst of the United States and Britain’s War of 1812, as the series is set in 1813.
Taboo is created and written by Steven Knight, who also worked with Hardy on Peaky Blinders and Locke. He based the miniseries on an original story by Hardy and his father, Chips Hardy. Both Tom Hardy and Knight are executive producers, along with Dean Baker, Scott and Kate Crowe, and Gene Stein. Timothy Bricknell will produce, and Chips Harder will serve as consulting producer.
Taboo is expected to start filming in November, and then premiere on the BBC in the U.K. and FX in the U.S. in 2016.
