Hulu has shared the trailer and key art for Shardlake, the new series based on the popular Tudor murder mystery novels by C.J. Sansom. The series premieres on Wednesday, May 1, on Hulu in the U.S., Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ in select territories.
Drenched in mystery, suspense, and deception, this four-part drama, based on the first novel in C.J. Sansom’s book series, is an eerie whodunnit adventure set in 16th-century England during the dissolution of the monasteries.
Shardlake’s sheltered life as a lawyer is turned upside down when Cromwell instructs him to investigate the murder of one of his commissioners at a monastery in the remote town of Scarnsea. The commissioner was gathering evidence to close the monastery, and it is now imperative for Cromwell’s own political survival that Shardlake both solves the murder and closes the monastery.
He leaves Shardlake in no doubt that failure is not an option. Cromwell insists that he be accompanied by Jack Barak to Scarnsea, where the duo is met with hostility, suspicion, and paranoia by the monks. The monks fear for their future and will seemingly stop at nothing to preserve their order.
Arthur Hughes plays Matthew Shardlake, a lawyer with an acute sense of justice and one of the few honest men in a world beset with scheming and plots. Shardlake works for Thomas Cromwell (Sean Bean), Henry VIII’s dangerous and all-powerful right-hand man.
Despite Shardlake’s unwavering loyalty to Cromwell and the Crown, his position in society is unfavored due to his appearance, as a person living with scoliosis during the Tudor period, suffering the indignity of being abused as a “crookback” wherever he turns. Anthony Boyle plays the cocky and good-looking Jack Barak, who leaves Shardlake unsure of whether he is an assistant or Cromwell’s spy.
The series also stars Babou Ceesay as Abbot Fabian, Paul Kaye as Brother Jerome, Ruby Ashbourne Serkis as Alice, Peter Firth as Norfolk, Matthew Steer as Goodhap, and Brian Vernel as Brother Mortimus.
The cast is rounded out by Irfan Shamji as Brother Guy, David Pearse as Brother Edwig, Miles Barrow as Brother Gabriel, Mike Noble as Bugge, and Kimberley Nixon as Joan.
Stephen Butchard wrote the Shardlake series. George Ormond and Mark Pybus for The Forge and Stevie Lee for Runaway Fridge executive produce the series.
Lee Mason commissioned the show for Disney+, and Jonny Richards serves as executive producer. Justin Chadwick directed the series, with John Griffin as producer.
Mirko Parlevliet has been reporting on the entertainment industry since 1998 and founded Vital Thrills in 2018 to cover the latest news on streaming, movies, TV, and video games.