David Farnor | On 28, Aug 2021

The North Water will sail on to our screens this September, with BBC Two officially confirming the series’ UK TV air date.

Set in Hull and on the ice floes of the Arctic in the late 1850s, The North Water’s location work took place primarily in the Arctic, shooting on the frozen seas north of the Svalbard Archipelago. The cast and production team sailed as far as 81 degrees north to film sequences in the pack ice, the furthest point north it is believed a drama series has ever filmed before.

Based on the acclaimed novel by Ian McGuire, the five-part series tells the story of Patrick Sumner (Jack O’Connell), a disgraced ex-army surgeon who signs up as ship’s doctor on a whaling expedition to the Arctic. But the ferocity of the elements is matched by the violence of his crew mates, with Drax (Colin Farrell), a harpooner and distinctly brutal force of nature. As the true purpose of the expedition becomes clear, confrontation between the two men erupts, taking them on a journey far from solid ground and beyond the safe moorings of civilisation.

Adapted for the screen and directed by Andrew Haigh, the series co-stars Stephen Graham as Captain Brownlee, alongside Tom Courtenay as Baxter, Peter Mullan, Sam Spruell and Roland Møller.

You can see them in action on 10th September when the series premieres at 9.30pm on BBC Two. Here’s the trailer:

 

First look: Colin Farrell, Jack O’Connell, Stephen Graham in BBC Two’s The North Water

9th November 2019

Stephen Graham (The Virtues, Line of Duty, The Irishman), Tom Courtenay (45 Years, The Aeronauts) and Peter Mullan (Mum, Top Of The Lake) are among the names joining Colin Farrell and Jack O’Connell in Andrew Haigh’s forthcoming adaptation of The North Water, and now, have our first look at the impressive cast in action.

The drama, made by See-Saw Films for BBC Two, tells the story of Patrick Sumner (O’Connell), a disgraced ex-army surgeon who signs up as ship’s doctor on a whaling expedition to the Arctic. On board he meets the harpooner Henry Drax (Farrell), a brutish killer whose amorality has been shaped to fit the harshness of his world. Hoping to escape the horrors of his past, Sumner finds himself in a male-dominated world, on an ill-fated journey with a murderous psychopath. In search of redemption, his story becomes a harsh struggle for survival in the Arctic wasteland.

Based on the novel by Ian McGuire,!The North Water brings to life the contrasting worlds of Hull and the Arctic in the late 1850s, with Haigh (45 Years, Lean on Pete) writing and directing.

The cast and crew recently completed the first leg of filming in the Arctic, shooting for three weeks in Svalbard. The unit travelled as far as 81 degrees north to film sequences in the pack ice, the furthest point north it is believed a drama series has ever filmed before. Joining the cast are Sam Spruell (Outlaw King, Legend) as Cavendish, Roland Møller (Atomic Blond, Land Of Mine) as Otto, Philip Hill-Pearson (The Bay, Three Girls) as McKendrick and Kieran Urquhart (Vera, Humans) as Jones.

The first images released from The North Water’s icy locations feature Colin Farrell, Jack O’Connell and Stephen Graham as Henry Drax, Patrick Sumner and Captain Brownlee respectively. Graham will play Brownlee, the Volunteer’s Captain, whilst Tom Courtenay will play the ship’s owner, Baxter. Sam Spruell will play Cavendish, the ship’s first mate, and Roland Møller will play Otto, a harpooner. Peter Mullan will appear in episode four in a pivotal role.

Graham says: “Filming on the ship was an incredible experience and one that I will never forget. To be so privileged to see such beautiful animals like polar bears in their natural habitat – albeit it an ever changing one, sadly – was truly remarkable.”

Filming now continues in Hungary.

 

Jack O’Connell joins Colin Farrell in BBC Two’s The North Water

8th April 2019

Jack O’Connell has signed on for the lead role in BBC Two‘s The North Water.

Written and directed by Andrew Haigh (Lean on Pete, Looking, Weekend), the four-part thriller is based on the critically acclaimed novel from Ian McGuire, set in the UK and the ice floes of the Arctic in the late 1850s.

O’Connell plays Patrick Sumner, a disgraced ex-army surgeon who signs up as ship’s doctor on a whaling expedition to the Arctic. He joins Colin Farrell, already cast as Henry Drax (Farrell), a harpooner and brutish killer whose amorality has been shaped to fit the harshness of his world. Hoping to escape the horrors of his past, Sumner finds himself on an ill-fated journey with a murderous psychopath. In search of redemption, his story becomes a harsh struggle for survival in the Arctic wasteland.

Haigh says: “Jack is a fiercely instinctual actor who brings nuance and complexity to every character he plays. I can’t wait to see him bring Patrick Sumner to life.”

 

Colin Farrell sets sail for BBC Two’s The North Water

19th February 2019

Colin Farrell is setting sail for The North Water this year, boarding a new four-part thriller from BBC Two.

Based on the critically acclaimed novel from Ian McGuire, the series is being adapted and directed by Andrew Haigh (Lean On Pete, Looking, Weekend). Set in the UK and the ice floes of the Arctic in the late 1850s, The North Water tells the story of Patrick Sumner, a disgraced ex-army surgeon who signs up as ship’s doctor on a whaling expedition to the Arctic. On board, he meets Henry Drax (Farrell), the harpooner, a brutish killer whose amorality has been shaped to fit the harshness of his world. Hoping to escape the horrors of his past, Sumner finds himself on an ill-fated journey with a murderous psychopath. In search of redemption, his story becomes a harsh struggle for survival in the Arctic wasteland.

Haigh says: “Casting the right leads is the most important part of any project and I’m thrilled to have Colin Farrell on board. I am a huge admirer of his work and can’t wait to see him bring Drax vividly to life.”

The novel, published in 2016, was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and named A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice. The series will be produced by See-Saw Films (Top of the Lake) for BBC Two and was commissioned by Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, and Patrick Holland, Controller of BBC Two.

See-Saw Films’ COO Hakan Kousetta and Head of Television Jamie Laurenson, say: “The North Water is a thriller, a survival adventure, and searing study of character and man’s place in the world. We are so proud to have the compelling talent of Colin Farrell on board to bring Andrew Haigh’s vision of Ian McGuire’s novel to the screen.”

Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, says: “Colin Farrell will bring a blend of brutality and humanity to Andrew Haigh’s superb adaptation of this savage novel. The North Water is a brooding and resonant story which is set to grip BBC Two viewers.”

Filming will begin in this autumn.

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