©Deadline - ITVThe series is the result of a collaboration between three heavyweights from British television: multiple BAFTA winner Jack Thorne (known for Help and His Dark Materials), director Lewis Arnold (Sherwood), and producer Patrick Spence (Mr. Bates vs. the Post Office).
The production was quietly filmed and prepared for a year, under working titles such as Broken News and Mandrake, in co-production with the Australian streaming service Stan. A premiere date has yet to be announced.
The Hack tells the true story of investigative journalist Nick Davies, played by David Tennant, who exposed the hacking scandal at Murdoch's now-closed tabloid News of the World.
The series shows how Davies and his editorial team at The Guardian clashed with some of the world's most powerful media figures, and how he persevered despite political pressure, legal obstacles, and police opposition.
The series also focuses on Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Cook, played by Robert Carlyle, who led the investigation into the unsolved murder of private investigator Daniel Morgan. This murder case proved to be closely intertwined with the scandal, as Morgan was believed to be on the verge of revealing information about corruption within both the police and the media.
Another key figure in the series is Alan Rusbridger, the then-editor-in-chief of The Guardian, played by Toby Jones. He supported Davies's revelations and played a crucial role in bringing the truth to light.
Besides Tennant, Carlyle, and Jones, the impressive cast includes a wide range of well-known British actors, including Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones), Dougray Scott (Hemlock Grove), Eve Myles (Hijack), Adrian Lester (London Spy), and Kevin Doyle (Downton Abbey).
The phone hacking scandal ultimately led to the closure of the News of the World in 2011 and the imprisonment of former editor-in-chief Andy Coulson. Journalist Nick Davies wrote about his investigation in the award-winning book "Hack Attack: How the Truth Caught Up with Rupert Murdoch," which served as the basis for the series.
The topic has become topical again now that News Group Newspapers, a subsidiary of Murdoch, recently publicly admitted to illegal activities carried out by private investigators employed by The Sun. This admission came after a settlement with Prince Harry, who had been pursuing legal action against the British tabloid press for years.
The Hack is not only a legal and political thriller, but also a story of courageous journalism, moral dilemmas, and systemic failure. The series examines how the press—supposed to be a check on power—itself went off the rails, and how a handful of individuals ensured that the truth finally came to light.
Check out more first-look photos below.
©Deadline - ITV
©Deadline - ITV
©Deadline - ITV
©Deadline - ITV
©Deadline - ITV
©Deadline - ITV
But seriously, this looks interesting. Jack Thorne has proven with Toxic Town that he's adept at handling true-life scandals as a writer. And actors like Toby Jones and Robert Carlyle are definitely good additions.