BBC AMERICA’s highly anticipated new series, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, officially started production last week. Penned by Max Landis and from the producers of The Walking Dead, the series is a comedic thriller that follows the bizarre adventures of eccentric “holistic” detective Dirk Gently (Samuel Barnett) and his reluctant assistant Todd (Elijah Wood). The series is an adaptation of Douglas Adams’ (“Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”) wildly successful comic novels, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, and is set in the unexpected world of the hyper, absurd, eponymous detective. Filming in Vancouver runs through August and the series premieres Fall 2016 on BBC AMERICA.
“Douglas Adams might have said we ended up with the cast we were meant to have. I’d add we’re extremely happy about it,” said showrunner Robert Cooper.
The adventure follows Dirk and Todd as they wend their way through one big, seemingly insane mystery, crossing unlikely paths with a bevy of wild and sometimes dangerous characters. Each episode lands them a few random steps closer to uncovering the truth. The series also stars Hannah Marks as Todd’s sister Amanda, a former rebellious punk riot grrl, now sidelined and housebound by a painful genetic disorder.
The latest additions to the cast include: Jade Eshete as Farah Black, the athletic, self-doubting, bad-ass, hyper competent but utterly anxious Security Officer to a billionaire; Mpho Koaho as Ken, a nerdy, friendly-faced tech trapped in increasingly difficult and bloody circumstances; Fiona Dourif as Bart Curlish, the terrifying, homicidal, deranged, fearless and nearly invincible self-identified “Holistic Assassin”; Michael Eklund as Martin, violent ring leader of the Rowdy 3 with an inexplicable sensitive side; Miguel Sandoval as Colonel Scott Riggins, beleaguered CIA head of a defunct secret bureau investigating the paranormal; Dustin Milligan as Sergeant Hugo Friedkin, Riggin’s subordinate, unpredictable, wildly ambitious and dangerous moron; and Aaron Douglas as Gordon Rimmer, an enigmatic loser with an impressive series of horrible secrets. Also joining the inaugural season is Neil Brown Jr. as Estevez and Richard Schiff as Zimmerfield, missing person’s detectives operating increasingly off book as they follow the trail of a complex and mystifying case. Additional casting for the series will continue over the course of production.
When asked about casting, show creator Max Landis responded: “I couldn’t be happier. We got such wonderful actors, it’s really a shame we’re killing so many of the characters.”
In addition to Max Landis and Robert Cooper, Dirk Gently’s executive producers include Ted Adams and David Ozer for IDW; David Alpert and Rick Jacobs for Circle of Confusion and Zainir Aminullah and Arvind Ethan David for IDEATE MEDIA. Oscar-winning director Dean Parisot will direct the series’ first two episodes.
Dirk Gently is the newest addition to BBCA’s scripted slate including Doctor Who, Orphan Black, Thirteen, Undercover, The Living and The Dead, London Spy, Luther and Class.
