Ian Rankin’s Rebus novels are getting a new lease of life on the small screen, with Viaplay planning to air the television adaptation next year.
The series was previously adapted by ITV, with both John Hannah and Ken Stott taking on the title role in different seasons. The new series will see Richard Rankin take the reins and play the iconic character.
The Scottish actor is best known for his role on another show based on a series of books, Outlander, which is an adaptation of the series of books by Diana Gabaldon. Filming is expected to start soon, with the first series scheduled to hit screens in 2024.
The actor claimed his decision to take the role was based on his love for the original books.
He said: “I’m thrilled to be taking on the role of Rebus. I’m a big fan of the series and Sir Ian Rankin. I feel very lucky to be given the honour of bringing such an iconic Scottish character back to TV screens and will give all I have to do it justice.”
Sir Ian Rankin has also given his approval to The Outlander actor being cast.
He said: “I’m very much looking forward to watching Richard bring the character to life – he’s the perfect fit for the role, and not just because we coincidentally share the same surname!”
The synopsis for the new adaptation reads as follows: “The compelling new story follows 40-year-old police detective John Rebus (Richard Rankin), who finds himself at a psychological crossroads following an altercation with an infamous Edinburgh gangster.
“At odds with a job increasingly driven by corporate technocrats, involved in a toxic affair he knows he needs to end, and all but supplanted in his daughter’s life by his ex-wife’s wealthy new husband, Rebus begins to wonder if he still has a role to play – either as a family man or a police officer.
“In a world of divisive politics and national discord, does the law still have meaning, or is everyone reverting to an older set of rules? And if so, why shouldn’t Rebus do so too?”
There are 24 Rebus novels, so there will no doubt be plenty of source material for the television show creators to work off.
