Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth has been confirmed to star opposite Jack Lowden in Apple TV’s upcoming drama based on Philip Kerr’s bestselling Berlin Noir novels. The untitled series, adapted by Oscar winner Peter Straughan and directed by Tom Shankland, began filming in Berlin, focusing on the 1928 origin story from the first book, Metropolis. This production marks a reunion between Firth and Straughan, who previously collaborated on the 2011 film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
Series Overview: A Gritty Investigation in 1928 Berlin
Set against the backdrop of a turbulent, shifting Berlin just before the Nazi era, the story follows Bernie Gunther (played by Lowden), a newly appointed officer in the elite Berlin Murder Squad. Tasked with investigating a serial killer preying on society’s marginalized, Bernie navigates a city caught between newfound freedoms and looming political danger. The series explores Bernie’s unwavering pursuit of truth amid rapidly changing social and political norms.
Colin Firth’s Role and Character Dynamics
Firth will portray Paul Lohser, a highly intelligent but socially withdrawn detective partnered with Bernie Gunther. Known for his meticulous work and antisocial tendencies, Lohser serves as Bernie’s unlikely mentor and most dependable ally in the hunt for the serial killer. Their complex partnership forms a central element in the unfolding investigation within the series.
Production Team and Collaborators Behind the Project
The series is produced by Bad Wolf alongside Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman’s PlayTone. Executive producers include Jane Tranter, Dan McCulloch, Ryan Rasmussen, Peter Straughan, and Tom Shankland. Additionally, Jane Thynne, Philip Kerr’s widow and owner of the Bernie Gunther copyright through Thynker Ltd, acts as a consulting producer, ensuring fidelity to the source material.
Colin Firth’s Upcoming Projects
Alongside this Berlin Noir series, Firth is set to appear in Guy Ritchie’s Young Sherlock series on Prime Video, premiering March 4. He is also starring in Steven Spielberg’s UFO film Disclosure and will reprise his role as Harry Hart in Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman: The Blue Bloods, featuring Taron Egerton. Firth is represented by Independent Talent and CAA.
