London, U.K. (April 10, 2024) – Today, Arthur Hughes and Anthony Boyle announced the release date for upcoming Disney+ Original series, “Shardlake”. The thrilling Tudor murder-mystery series based on the internationally popular novels by C.J. Sansom https://amzn.to/4atyGCo launches on 1 May on Disney+ with all episodes available.

Drenched in mystery, suspense and deception, this four-part drama, based on the first novel in Sansom’s 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 is accompanied by Jack Barak to Scarnsea, where the duo are met with hostility, suspicion and paranoia by the monks who fear for their future and will seemingly stop at nothing to preserve their order.

Arthur Hughes (“Then Barbara Met Alan”) 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, played by Sean Bean (“Time”) the dangerous and all-powerful right-hand man to Henry VIII. Anthony Boyle (“Masters of the Air”) plays the cocky 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 Fewterer, Peter Firth as Norfolk, Matthew Steer as Goodhap, Brian Vernel as Brother Mortimus, Irfan Shamji as Brother Guy, David Pearse as Brother Edwig, Miles Barrow as Brother Gabriel, Mike Noble as Bugge and Kimberley Nixon as Joan.

“Shardlake” is written by Stephen Butchard (“The Good Mothers”). The series is executive produced by George Ormond and Mark Pybus for The Forge (a Banijay UK company) and Stevie Lee for Runaway Fridge. The series was commissioned by Lee Mason for Disney+, with Jonny Richards serving as executive producer for Disney+. Justin Chadwick (“The Other Boleyn Girl”) has directed the series with John Griffin as producer.

Disney+ is available from £4.99 per month – with no hidden costs and the ability to cancel anytime. There’s something for everyone to watch, adding new TV series, blockbuster movies and exclusive Originals throughout the year under its six brands: Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and Star. With a library of entertainment spanning everything from documentaries to critically acclaimed drama, and comedy to classic animation. Customers can enjoy anything from, the latest season of “Only Murders In The Building”, “Criminal Minds: Evolution” and “Culprits”.

ABOUT DISNEY+

Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic, along with The Simpsons and much more. In select international markets, it also includes the general entertainment content brand, Star. The flagship direct-to-consumer streaming service from Disney, Disney+ offers an ever-growing collection of exclusive originals, including feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series, and short-form content. With unprecedented access to Disney’s long history of incredible film and television entertainment, Disney+ is also the exclusive streaming home for the newest releases from The Walt Disney Studios. For more, visit disneyplus.com, or find the Disney+ app on most mobile and connected TV devices.

ABOUT THE FORGE

The Forge (a Banijay UK Company) is a UK based drama production company with an unrivalled reputation for high quality, ambitious and influential TV drama, working in collaboration with the UK’s leading and emerging creative talent. The company has produced a wide range of award-winning dramas including Jack Thorne’s ‘National Treasure’ starring Robbie Coltrane and Julie Walters, ’Help’ starring Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham, David Hare’s ‘Collateral’ and ‘Roadkill’, starring Carey Mulligan and Hugh Laurie respectively and Anya Reiss’s ‘Becoming Elizabeth’ for Starz in the US. Most recently, The Forge produced major 8-part series ‘The Buccaneers’ for Apple TV+, which launched globally in 2023. Created and written by Katherine Jakeways, the acclaimed series starred Kristine Frøseth, Alisha Boe, Josie Totah, Aubri Ibrag, Imogen Waterhouse, Mia Threapleton and Emmy Award winner Christina Hendricks. The Forge currently has multiple, high profile new titles for both linear and SVOD platforms in production, including season 2 of ‘The Buccaneers’ for Apple TV+; ‘Generation Z’, a six-part series and the first original TV project from Ben Wheatley for Channel 4 and ‘We Go Again’ (working title), a six-part series from award-winning writer Janice Okoh for BBC Three.