After the huge success of “Baby Reindeer”, Richard Gadd is making an impressive comeback with “Half Man” – a self-written, emotional and powerful series in co-production between HBO and BBC.
Richard Gadd established himself as an important voice in British television with the miniseries “Baby Reindeer” (2024), which was based on his own traumatic experiences. The series was awarded six Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes for its brutality and honest portrayal of stalking and psychological violence.
Now he is back with “Half Man”, which follows the same trail of intense and personal stories – this time in a fictional setting, but with a completely different thematic depth.
“Half Man” is a six-episode series in which Gadd has both written the script and created the series, as well as playing the lead role as Ruben. Jamie Bell, known from “Rocketman”, plays his brother Niall.
The plot takes shape when Ruben shows up unexpectedly at his brother’s wedding. This triggers violence and trauma, and the series follows their relationship through almost 40 years. The series explores what it means to be a man in a time of constant change.
The series is produced by Mam Tor Productions for the BBC, BBC Scotland and HBO in the United States. The international distribution is handled by Banijay Rights, with support from Screen Scotland. The direction is shared between Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck, while Wendy Griffin is the producer. Filming started earlier this year in the Glasgow area and was completed this summer.
The Scottish Sun shows photos of Gadd – “bulked up” and tattooed – in a striking physical contrast to his role in “Baby Reindeer”. According to Vanity Fair, Gadd has put a lot of effort into building up his body, as a creative expression of his character’s strength and struggle. This marks a transition from the emotional vulnerability of “Baby Reindeer” to the physical intensity of this project.
In addition to Gadd and Bell, several talented actors participate. Mitchell Robertson and Stuart Campbell play the younger versions of Niall and Ruben, while Neve McIntosh and Marianne McIvor play their mothers, Lori and Maura.
“Half Man” is scheduled to premiere in 2026. In the UK, the series will be available on BBC iPlayer, BBC One and BBC Scotland, while in the US and probably also in Norway it will be shown on HBO Max.
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Headlines:
- Sequel to the critically acclaimed “Baby Reindeer”
- Exploring masculinity and family relationships
- Large ensemble of actors with established stars
- Expected global distribution via HBO Max
