Catherine McCormack Joins Colin Firth in ‘Lockerbie’ Flight Disaster Series From Sky and Peacock
Catherine McCormack has joined Colin Firth in Sky and Peacock’s upcoming limited series “Lockerbie,” about the 1988 flight disaster in which 259 passengers and crew members were killed.
The “Slow Horses” actor will play Jane Swire, the wife of Dr. Jim Swire (Firth). The Swires lost their daughter, Flora, in the terror attack on Pan Am Flight 103 and have been searching for justice ever since.
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Sky and Peacock have also announced the rest of the cast, which includes Sam Troughton (“Chernobyl”) as Murray Guthrie, Mark Bonnar (“Napoleon”) as Roderick McGill, Andy Nyman (“A Small Light”) as Edwin Bollier, Ardalan Esmaili (“Opponent”) as Abdelbaset al-Megrahi and Selwa Jghalef (“Layers”) as Aisha.
“In the wake of the disaster and his daughter Flora’s death, Dr. Jim Swire is nominated spokesperson for the U.K. victims’ families, who have united to demand truth and justice,” the show’s official description states. “Traveling across continents and political divides, Jim embarks on a relentless journey that not only jeopardizes his stability, family and life, but completely overturns his trust in the justice system. As the truth shifts under Jim’s feet, his view of the world is left forever sullied. Exploring events from the disaster and its aftermath, Lockerbie provides an intimate account of a man, a husband, and a father who risks everything in memory of his daughter and the unflinching pursuit of truth and justice.”
Based on Swire and Peter Biddulph’s book “The Lockerbie Bombing: A Father’s Search for Justice,” the five-part limited series is a co-production between “Downton Abbey” producers Carnival Films, which is part of Universal International Studios, and Sky Studios. Scottish playwright David Harrower (“Blackbird,” “Knives in Hens”) will serve as lead writer, while Maryam Hamidi (“Vigil”) is a guest writer on an episode. Additional writers include Jim, Kirsten and Naomi Sheridan. “Peaky Blinders” helmer Otto Bathurst is on board as lead director, and Jim Loach (“Save Me”) will also direct an episode.
Production on “Lockerbie” has started. Executive producers include Gareth Neame and Nigel Marchant for Carnival Films, Sam Hoyle for Sky Studios and David Harrower, Liz Trubridge, Jim Sheridan, Kirsten Sheridan and Oskar Slingerland. Hamidi is an associate producer and Brian Kaczynski is a producer.
“Lockerbie” will be available to watch on Sky and streaming service NOW in the U.K., Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, and on Peacock in the U.S. NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution is handling international sales.
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