Arguably one of the more overlooked gems on Tom Hardy’s résumé is Locke, Steven Knight’s minimalist thriller that had The Revenant star enclosed in a car for the entirety of its running time. The results were a surprisingly tense and gripping drama, so it’s little wonder Hardy and Knight are reteaming for FX and BBC One’s eight-part period drama, Taboo.
Sending Hardy’s back to the early 19th century as James Keziah Delaney, it’s understood the Oscar nominee penned the story along with his father, Chips Hardy, and Taboo is a dark family drama that will be brought to the small screen by Kristoffer Nyholm. (The Killing, The Enfield Haunting).
Inheriting his father’s shipping empire, James K. Delaney is left presiding over an ailing business, and it’s one that’s attracted some questionable customers in recent times. That leaves Hardy’s protagonist facing all manner of devious agendas, as he looks to rejuvenate his old man’s prized asset. Plus, there’s also the small manner of ducking out of his own death sentence. Jonathan Pryce (Game of Thrones), Michael Kelly (House of Cards) and Oona Chaplin also star.
Set in 1814, Taboo follows James Keziah Delaney, a man who has been to the ends of the earth and comes back irrevocably changed. Believed to be long dead, he returns home to London from Africa to inherit what is left of his father’s shipping empire and rebuild a life for himself. But his father’s legacy is a poisoned chalice, and with enemies lurking in every dark corner, James must navigate increasingly complex territories to avoid his own death sentence. Encircled by conspiracy, murder, and betrayal, a dark family mystery unfolds in a combustible tale of love and treachery.
No word yet on an official due date for Taboo, but we’ll be sure to keep you posted. In the meantime, share your early thoughts on the maiden trailer for Knight’s eight-part series below.
