Rachel Shenton, Emily Atack and Joanne Whalley have been cast as the leads in the upcoming British psychological drama ‘The Rumour’, which shows how small-town gossip can get out of hand.
In the new five-part series, based on the novel by Lesley Kara, Shenton plays Joanna, a mother who moves to a quiet town with her son in search of a fresh start. But she soon finds herself caught up in a disturbing dynamic when she becomes entangled with a group of local mothers.
“When Joanna comes across a rumor online about a child killer living in the city, she uses it to win over the mothers at the school gate,” the logline reads. “As the gossip spreads, suspicions grow and Joanna is drawn into a web of secrets and paranoia. Balancing her efforts to protect her son against the growing unease in the town, Joanna struggles to distinguish between truth and rumor. With relationships strained and emotions running high, the lines between trust and fear are blurring.”
Oscar winner Shenton is best known for ‘All Creatures Great and Small’, while Atack recently appeared in the Disney+ series ‘Rivals’. Whalley has appeared in “Scandal” and “Wolf Hall.”
The cast is completed by Samuel Anderson (“Doctor Who”), Ellie Haddington (“Enola Holmes”), Lucy Speed (“Unforgotten”), Liza Sadovy (“A Real Pain”) and Carryl Thomas (“Silo”) . The cast also includes Tamzin Griffin, Alex Waldmann and Okezie Morro.
Richard Clark (“Doctor Who”) directs the series, while Giula Sandler (“The House Across the Street”) writes the screenplay.
Tentatively set to premiere next year on Paramount-owned Channel 5, “The Rumour” is produced by Cuba Pictures and Clapperboard in association with Fremantle. Fremantle is concerned with global rights.
Emily Hayward Whitlock of The Artists Partnership negotiated the rights in collaboration with Amanda Preston of LBA Books.
Channel 5’s drama commissioning editor Paul Testar has ordered the series and will produce the series alongside Sebastian Cardwell, deputy chief content officer at Paramount UK for Channel 5. Dixie Linder (“Chemistry of Death”) and Nick Marston (“McMafia”) produce with Rachel Gesua (“The Teacher”) and Suzi McIntosh “(Silent Witness”). Sandler is also an executive producer. Dominic Barlow (“The Mallorca Files”) produces.
“I’m very excited to play Joanna,” said Shenton. “’The Rumor’ is a story about a woman’s unraveling as she relentlessly searches for the truth. She is very relatable and the cast is great. It is wonderful to work with so many women.”
Testar added: “’The Rumor’ is a gripping drama about the dangerous power of secrets and gossip in a small town. With Lesley Kara’s compelling story and a stellar cast, this series promises edge-of-your-seat suspense and a fascinating exploration of the thin line between trust and fear.”