Jamie Dornan is stepping into his most complex role yet with Netflix’s THE UNDERTOW, a gripping crime noir that promises to showcase the full range of his dramatic capabilities. Fresh from his acclaimed performance in Kenneth Branagh’s BELFAST and his chilling turn in the BBC’s THE TOURIST, Dornan continues to distance himself from his FIFTY SHADES era, choosing projects that challenge both him and audiences with their psychological depth.
THE UNDERTOW sees Dornan taking on the demanding dual role of identical twins Adam and Lee, whose fractured relationship becomes the catalyst for a week-long nightmare of deception and buried emotions. The series, adapted from the Norwegian thriller TWIN, transplants its Nordic noir sensibilities to the rugged Scottish Highlands, where Dornan’s characters find themselves at the center of a dangerous web of secrets that threatens to destroy everyone involved.
The story begins when Lee, Adam’s long-estranged twin brother, crashes back into the life of Nicola, Adam’s wife played by Mackenzie Davis. What makes this reunion particularly volatile is the tangled romantic history between Lee and Nicola, a past that never truly died despite her loveless marriage to his brother. When a split-second decision leads to a terrible accident, Nicola is forced to protect her children at any cost, binding her fate to Lee’s in a desperate attempt to maintain their web of lies.
For Dornan, this represents another strategic move in his evolving career trajectory. Following his breakout in THE FALL, where he masterfully portrayed a serial killer with unsettling charm, and his recent work in projects like WILD MOUNTAIN THYME and BARB AND STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR, THE UNDERTOW allows him to explore the complexities of playing against himself. The challenge of embodying two distinct personalities while maintaining the physical similarities that make their deception possible will test every aspect of his craft.
The production, helmed by SLOW HORSES director Jeremy Lovering, brings together a impressive creative team including BRIDGERTON‘s Sarah Dollard and GANGS OF LONDON‘s Kam Odedra as part of the writing ensemble. This collaboration suggests a series that will balance the psychological thriller elements with the kind of character-driven storytelling that has defined the best of contemporary television drama.
Filming across the Scottish Highlands in May 2024 provides THE UNDERTOW with a atmospheric backdrop that mirrors the internal turmoil of its characters. The landscape becomes almost a third character in the story, its stark beauty hiding the same kinds of secrets that the twins and Nicola desperately try to keep buried. This setting choice also aligns with the Nordic noir tradition, where the environment often reflects the moral ambiguity of the characters who inhabit it.
While Netflix has yet to announce an official release date, THE UNDERTOW is expected to premiere sometime in 2025, giving Dornan another opportunity to prove that his post-FIFTY SHADES career choices represent a deliberate evolution toward more substantive, challenging material. The series arrives at a time when audiences are hungry for sophisticated thrillers that trust viewers to engage with morally complex characters and situations without easy answers.
THE UNDERTOW represents more than just another role for Dornan; it’s a statement about the kind of actor he’s become and the stories he wants to tell. By choosing to adapt a acclaimed Norwegian series rather than simply remaking American properties, the production signals an commitment to bringing international storytelling sensibilities to English-language television. For viewers seeking the kind of slow-burning psychological tension that made series like THE KILLING and BORGEN international sensations, THE UNDERTOW promises to deliver that same compelling blend of character study and crime drama, anchored by Dornan’s most ambitious performance to date.
From THE COMMITMENTS to THE TUDORS to KIN, @mariadoylekennedy has built a career that defies categories.
In a brand new interview with The Irish Examiner, Maria opens up about the artists and art that shaped her creative journey—from her Dublin roots to international screens and stages.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
🎭 From Shakespeare to a Beatle: Paul Mescal is doing the impossible!
Oscar-nominated Irish actor Paul Mescal is taking on TWO iconic roles that prove he`s one of the most fearless actors working today.
Watch Paul`s latest interview at irishfilmtv.com.
Kerry Condon`s brief but powerful performance in TRAIN DREAMS is pitch perfect.
She inhabits her character with quiet competence, moving through a male-dominated world with both caution and grace.
Watch now on @netflix!
🎬 HAMNET stars to receive Vanguard Award at the Palm Springs International Film Awards!
A stunning meditation on love`s fragility and art`s power to transform suffering into transcendence. This is Irish talent at its absolute finest on the world stage.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Netflix just quietly dropped a crime thriller you`ve been sleeping on, and Brendan Gleeson`s performance alone makes it mandatory viewing.
MR MERCEDES, Stephen King`s dark detective series that somehow flew under the radar, is finally streaming – and it`s everything fans of slow-burn psychological thrillers have been craving.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Andrew Scott is about to steal another movie and we`re absolutely here for it! 🔍
The trailer for WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY has dropped, and our beloved Irish actor is joining Daniel Craig`s Benoit Blanc for what looks like the most deliciously twisted instalment yet.
Scott plays bestselling author Lee Ross, one of several suspects in a seemingly impossible murder that rocks a small town`s religious community.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
From GLADIATOR II`s arena to the quiet forests of Maine collecting folk songs on wax cylinders—Paul Mescal`s latest role in THE HISTORY OF SOUND might be his most vulnerable yet.
Now on @amazonprime, the film follows Lionel, a shy musician from a Kentucky farm in the 1910s, who meets David White (Josh O`Connor) at the New England Conservatory.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
For more than two decades, Domhnall Gleeson has carved out one of the most diverse and compelling careers in contemporary cinema.
Watch Domhnall break down his career in his latest @esquire interview!
Link in bio ❤️
Adapted from Louise Kennedy`s bestselling novel, TRESPASSES stars Gillian Anderson as executive producer and cast member.
Kennedy praises the "ear-perfect, sexy script" and "gorgeously melancholic aesthetic vision" that brings her Women`s Prize-shortlisted novel to life.
Premieres Sunday 9pm on Channel 4, more at irishfilmtv.com.
THE IRIS AFFAIR is a high-stakes chase thriller that turns Italy into a deadly playground where genius meets danger.
Created by LUTHER mastermind Neil Cross, this Sky Original delivers cinematic tension where trust is fatal and every move could be your last. Two minds. One secret. No escape.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
** NEW TRAILER ALERT **
Roadside Attractions has unveiled the first trailer for H IS FOR HAWK, and it`s breathtaking. Brendan Gleeson appears as the father whose absence shapes everything, bringing his signature depth to a role that haunts the entire film.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
🎬 HAMNET has officially overtaken Paul Thomas Anderson`s ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER as the Oscar frontrunner!
Chloé Zhao`s Shakespeare-inspired drama now leads with a 96.8% chance of nomination, fueled by its Telluride buzz and Toronto People`s Choice win.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
The DERRY GIRLS creator is back with HOW TO GET TO HEAVEN FROM BELFAST — and it`s the show Lisa McGee says she`s always wanted to make. 🍀
Three childhood friends. One mysterious death. A wake that goes sideways. Eight episodes of chaos, secrets, and arguments about eyelash extensions.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Pierce Brosnan trades his 007 tuxedo for raw, devastating drama in CURTAIN CALL—arriving on digital November 10.
Starring opposite Jessica Lange, Brosnan continues his brilliant pivot from action hero to serious character actor, exploring the heartbreaking reality of dementia in the theatre world.
Watch trailer on irishfilmtv.com.
Colin Farrell`s latest is dividing audiences, but everyone agrees on one thing: his performance is absolutely magnetic ✨
The Oscar-nominated Irish actor stars as Lord Doyle, a spiraling gambler in neon-soaked Macao searching for redemption.
Don`t miss Farrell at his destructive best, now on @netflix!
