Will Forte Set For ‘Bodkin’ (Working Title), Higher Ground and wiip’s First Drama Series at Netflix

Netflix, Higher Ground, and independent studio, wiip announced the cast of BODKIN (wt) their first drama series today, which will start production in Ireland next week. Will Forte, Siobhan Cullen, Robyn Cara, David Wilmot, and Chris Walley are set to star in the seven-episode, darkly comedic thriller.

Logline: BODKIN (wt) is a darkly comedic thriller about a motley crew of podcasters who set out to investigate the mysterious disappearance of three strangers in an idyllic, coastal Irish town. But once they start pulling at threads, they discover a story much bigger and weirder than they could have ever imagined. As our heroes try to discern fact from fiction — about the case, about their colleagues, and, most painfully, themselves — the series challenges our perception of truth and exposes the stories we tell ourselves to justify our beliefs or validate our fears.

• Creator/Co-Showrunner/Executive Producer: Jez Scharf
• Co-Showrunner/Executive Producer: Alex Metcalf
• Executive Producers: David Flynn (wiip), Paul Lee (wiip), Tonia Davis, Barack and Michelle Obama (Higher Ground), Nne Ebong
• Lead Director: Nash Edgerton

QUOTE FROM HIGHER GROUND:

“We are ecstatic to partner with wiip for this wickedly wry thriller which questions truth, narrative, and the very purpose of each,” said Higher Ground Head of Film and Television, Tonia Davis. “This entire creative team – Jez, Alex, Nash, and the phenomenal cast led by Will Forte and Siobhan Cullen – will bring to life something very special and we can’t wait to share it with audiences around the world.”
 

Cast includes:

• Will Forte (“Nebraska”) plays Gilbert: Charming, open, and enthusiastic, Gilbert Power is an American podcaster on the hunt for his next big story. Originally from Chicago, Gilbert’s family emigrated from Cork, and is hoping to discover his Irish roots. Gilbert loves his work, and using his undeniable charm and natural warmth to unearth the truth of a story by gaining people’s trust — and then weaving their memories, recollections and theories into an engaging narrative. While his affect is innocent and charming, it’s clear that there’s much more going on underneath the surface — something he hopes to avoid by coming to Ireland in pursuit of material for his next podcast.
• Siobhan Cullen (“The Dry”) plays Dove: Originally from Dublin, Dove is a truth-seeking missile. A hard-nosed investigative journalist with a fine-tuned bullshit detector and a healthy disdain for authority and hypocrisy. People find Dove rude, “difficult.” But she believes she just tells the truth, which makes her completely blind to her own bullshit and hypocrisy. She’s also funny. And brave. And brilliant. She can also be extremely charming and persuasive. Unfortunately, she’s in the middle of the biggest professional crisis of her career — and when you live your life as a lone wolf, your career tends to be all you have.
• Robyn Cara (“Trying”) plays Emmy: Bright, funny and eager to please, Emmy is a researcher and has been helping Gilbert organize this podcast to a ‘T’. But underneath her competent exterior, Emmy is clearly gnawed at by insecurities which she tries to hide with enthusiasm and comedy. Pulled between the sharp Dove and laconic Gilbert, Emmy’s is struggling to find her own voice.
• David Wilmot (“Station Eleven”) plays Seamus Gallagher: Seamus carries the weight and presence of a man who was physically powerful in his younger years. Mercurial and mysterious, Seamus can turn on the charm when it serves his needs, however he can just as quickly snap into outbursts of violence when he feels he is being threatened.
• Chris Walley (“The Last Voyage Of The Demeter”) plays Sean O’Shea: A local from the village of Bodkin, Sean is a typical Irish country lad — feckless, up for a laugh, and doesn’t seem to be preoccupied with the obligations or responsibilities that usually accompany adulthood. He also is wrapped up in some pretty shady business, and a situation where we come to learn he is completely out of his depth.

Cast Bios

WILL FORTE

Will Forte has established himself as one of the most versatile actors in film and television. Forte is known for his eight seasons on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and for his starring role in the feature film adaptation of MACGRUBER for which he co-wrote the script with Jorma Taccone and John Solomon. In December 2021, the trio created the MACGRUBER series on Peacock, which stars original castmates Kristin Wiig and Ryan Philippe. He is currently in production on Warner Brothers’s COYOTE VS ACME, a live-action/CG animation hybrid feature where he will star opposite John Cena.

He co-created, produced and starred in FOX’s THE LAST MAN ON EARTH and was nominated for a 2016 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, and in 2015, he was nominated in two Emmy Award categories: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. He also starred in the Academy Award- and Golden Globe nominated 2014 film NEBRASKA.
 

ROBYN CARA

Robyn recently wrapped on her third season as JEN in Apple TV series TRYING (d. Jim O’Hanlon). Her series THE RISING (d. Ed Lilly) which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival 2022, is currently available on Sky in the UK. She’ll next be on screen in Netflix’s RED ROSE written by Paul and Michael Clarkson. Other recent screen roles includes Kat in Mike Bartlett’s LIFE (d. Jane Pollard) on Channel 4, Kayla in two series of ACKLEY BRIDGE also for Channel 4 and Leonie in the Broadcast Award winning series HOUNSLOW DIARIES (d. Nida Manzoor) for the BBC.

Robyn’s theatre credits include Theatr Clwyd’s production of THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST (d. Richard Fitch) in which she played Cecily at Theatr Clwyd, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (d. Pia Furtado) at the Mercury Theatre in which she played Hero, and OLIVER TWIST (d. Caroline Byrne) at Regent’s Park in which she played Agnes. Robyn is a graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and trained at the National Youth Theatre.
 

SIOBHAN CULLEN

Siobhán Cullen is currently starring alongside Ralph Fiennes in STRAIGHT LINE CRAZY at The Bridge Theatre.

Prior to this, Siobhán wrapped a leading role on THE DRY, a new series for Element Pictures. Her previous television credits include series regular Katie in ORIGIN (Left Bank Pictures), THE LONG CALL (ITV) and PAULA (BBC). Her film work includes a leading role in the feature THE BRIGHT SIDE. Siobhán has worked extensively on stage in productions such as ONCE UPON A BRIDGE, THE CHERRY ORCHARD, RICHARD III, CRESTFALL, and the one-woman play BOLAND (Druid Theatre Company) amongst others.
 

DAVID WILMOT

David Wilmot is an Irish stage, screen and television actor. David recently wrapped on the film EMBERS, directed by Christian Cooke and prior to that filmed the title role Silas in UNCLE SILAS directed by Lisa Mulcahy. David will next be seen on the big screen in THE WONDER alongside Florence Pugh and Ciarán Hinds, directed by Sebastián Lelio.

Most recently, David could be seen as a series regular in STATION ELEVEN for HBO directed by Hiro Murai. In 2020 David played Captain Buchard in the BARKSKINS for Nat Geo/Disney, alongside David Thewlis and Christian Cooke.

David drew acclaim for his role of Padraic in THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE, which originated in Stratford-upon-Avon and later moved to Broadway in 2006, leading to David being nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor.

David has an extensive list of impressive credits under his belt, including THE CROWN for Netflix, playing Arthur Scargill and RTÉ’s production, THE CLINIC, for which he was nominated for the Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor in a TV Drama for his portrayal of Dr Ed Costello. He has also starred in Starz’, BLACK SAILS, THE TUDORS and BBC One’s RIPPER STREET as a regular.

Some of David’s notable film credits include LETTER FOR THE KING for Netflix and Lisa Barros D’Sa/ Glenn Leyburn’s ORDINARY LOVE opposite Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. David also featured in David Yates’ iconic, FANTASTIC BEASTS, Jessica Hausner’s LITTLE JOE with Ben Whishaw which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, and CALM WITH HORSES with Barry Keoghan and Cosmo Jarvis. Further, ANNA KARENINA (2012) starring Keira Knightley and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, James Marsh’s, SHADOW DANCER (2012), starring Clive Owen, multi-award winning, CALVARY (2014) with Brendan Gleeson, ’71 (2014) with UNBROKEN’s, Jack O’Connell and WAR ON EVERYONE (2016), starring Alexander Skarsgård and Michael Peña.
 

CHRIS WALLEY

Chris was most recently seen in BLOODLANDS for the BBC alongside James Nesbitt and exec produced by Jed Mercurio. He is best known for his award-winning performance as JOCK in Peter Foot’s acclaimed cult comedy feature THE YOUNG OFFENDERS and the BBC TV adaptation of the same name. On stage, Chris starred in Martin McDonagh’s LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE directed by Michael Grandage for which he won an Olivier & Critic’s Choice Award for his performance. Chris recently completed filming THE LITTLE PEOPLE alongside Douglas Booth & Hannah John-Kamen and was also seen in Sam Mendes’ Oscar nominated 1917. He will next be seen in André Øvredal’s THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER, alongside Corey Hawkins and Liam Cunningham.