ITV has commissioned a serial killer thriller series called The Dark from ex-BBC drama controller Ben Stephenson’s Poison Pen.
The series is adapted by Matt Hartley based on GR Halliday’s debut novel From the Shadows. Poison Pen was launched by Stephenson under ITV Studios‘ production banner in 2023.
When the body of a young man is found eerily staged in the idyllic Scottish wilderness, detective Monica Kennedy fears this is just the beginning of a terrifying campaign that will strike the heart of a rural community. “As paranoia rises, suspicions and secrets are forced into the light, and the locals start to realise that there is a serial killer hidden amongst them,” a plot synopsis reads.
“With her experience of dealing with the darkest of humanity, Monica quickly becomes entangled in a heightened game of cat and mouse with a cunning killer,” it continued.
“But when her own history creeps up on her, she begins to lose trust in her own judgement. Will it be her own actions that are the biggest risk to herself and her family?”
ITV’s director of drama Polly Hill greenlit the six-part show. “The Dark is a compelling new drama which introduces the fearless DI Monica Kennedy, who has to try and catch a serial killer in this really chilling Scottish story,” said Hill. “Matt’s adaptation is brilliantly gripping and I am delighted to be adapting this novel with him and the team at Poison Pen.”
Stephenson added: “The Dark is a gripping hide behind the sofa thriller with unguessable twists and a central character whose mysterious past gives her an extraordinary insight into a twisted killer as well as an overpowering empathy for those left in the killer’s wake.”
Stephenson, Preethi Mavahalli, Luke Woellhaf and Fern McCauley will executive produce alongside Matt Hartley. Matt Brown will be producing the series, which also has Lena Rae and Nessah Muthy writing and Gilles Bannier as lead director and executive producer.
The Dark will commence filming in and around Glasgow during 2025 and is produced in association with ITV Studios, who will also distribute the series internationally.