BBC Two today announces Collateral, a gripping, high-octane thriller set in present day London, from pre-eminent playwright David Hare and starring Academy-Award nominee Carey Mulligan (An Education, The Great Gatsby, Suffragette).

It was commissioned by Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, and Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content.

The ensemble cast will also include John Simm (Life On Mars, State Of Play), Nicola Walker (Spooks, Last Tango In Halifax), and Billie Piper (Doctor Who, Penny Dreadful) who most recently won multiple awards for her on-stage role in Yerma at the Young Vic. Acclaimed director SJ Clarkson (Dexter, Jessica Jones, Love Nina, Toast) will helm.

Set over the course of four days, the four-part drama explores the spiraling repercussions surrounding the fatal shooting of a pizza delivery man. Refusing to accept this is a random act of senseless violence, tough and single-minded Detective Inspector Kip Glaspie (Mulligan) is determined to discover if there is a darker truth.

Politician David Mars (Simm) becomes instantly embroiled in the drama through his turbulent relationship with his troubled and unpredictable ex Karen (Piper). While Jane Oliver (Walker), a compassionate vicar, struggles to conceal her affair with the only witness to the crime. Hare’s electrifying writing acts as a moving spotlight, asking crucial questions about the state of modern Britain.

Carey Mulligan first attracted international recognition for her lead role in An Education and has found continued success with films such as The Great Gatsby, Suffragette, Shame and Inside Llewyn Davis. She will next be seen in Mudbound directed by Dee Rees and Wildlife directed by Paul Dano. She has been nominated for almost every major award, including a Tony, an Oscar, a Bafta, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award. Following the successful transfer of their revival of Skylight from the West End to Broadway, Collateral is her second collaboration with Hare. Mulligan is represented by WME and Julian Belfrage Associates.

Playwright, screenwriter, director and producer David Hare has written several feature films, including The Hours and The Reader both of which won Oscars, and widely-acclaimed plays including Plenty and Skylight.

David Hare says: “I've been writing drama for the BBC since 1973, but this is my first original series. I'm thrilled that it has such a stunningly gifted cast.”

Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, says: “Collateral is a highly imaginative, thought-provoking and utterly contemporary state of the nation thriller written by Britain's foremost political dramatist. It is a great honour to welcome Sir David Hare back to the BBC and to be working with both he and The Forge on this outstanding piece of original work.”

Collateral (4x60’) will premiere on BBC Two and is co-produced by The Forge and Netflix. Executive Producers are creator David Hare, George Faber and Mark Pybus for The Forge, Lucy Richer for the BBC and SJ Clarkson. Filming began this week.

Chloe Dunbar PR - chloe@chloedunbarpr.co.uk