Naomie Harris and Christina Hendricks are teaming up for a glossy new BBC legal drama that puts celebrity culture, social media, and the courtroom on a collision course.
The six-part series Reputation, now in production, stars Harris as Lena, a formidable lawyer pulled into the celebrity case of the decade when she takes on global pop star Davina Knight — played by Hendricks. When Davina releases a provocative new song accusing her ex-husband Billy (Kyle Soller) of abusive behavior and he retaliates in kind, their very private breakdown explodes into a very public libel battle. PR machines are deployed, laws are bent, and social media becomes judge, jury, and battleground.
Joining the leads are David Gyasi (The Diplomat), Ernest Kingsley Jnr (Washington Black), Jodie Campbell (Boarders), Kayla Meikle (Transaction), Alex Jennings (The Crown), Emily Atack (Rivals), Marli Siu (Twenty Twenty Six), Alex Heath (Serpent Queen), Tilly Keeper (You), Corey Johnson (The Day of the Jackal), Aidan McArdle (Sherlock & Daughter), Mike Noble (This City Is Ours), Enzo Cilenti (Black Mirror), and Kat Ronney (Dinosaur).
The series is written by Anya Reiss (Becoming Elizabeth), who also executive produces alongside George Ormond, Jade Taylor, and director Mahalia Belo (The End We Start From). Additional writers include Shyam Popat and Karla Crome. Alex Kazamia produces for The Forge, the Banijay U.K. company behind The Buccaneers. Banijay Rights will handle international distribution.
Harris said she was hooked from the very first page. “It’s so rare to read scripts with the wit and flair of Anya’s writing,” she said, “and I knew straight away that I wanted to play Lena.”
Hendricks echoed the enthusiasm, calling Davina a fantastic, fierce character. “I’m so looking forward to working with Naomie and I’m delighted to be working again with The Forge,” she added.
Reputation will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. A premiere date has not yet been announced.