Gabriel Byrne to star in C4 thriller Coup

Gabriel Byrne is to return to British TV to head the cast of new Channel 4 drama Coup (w/t).

Byrne plays politician Tom Dawkins, a reluctant hero at the heart of the four part contemporary conspiracy thriller produced by Company Pictures/Newscope Films.

The drama centres on a massive industrial accident on Teesside that leaves several people dead and raises questions about the safety procedures of the US petrochemical company involved.

Investigating the disaster, Dawkins becomes aware of the establishment’s secret ties to the petrochemical company and comes to realise that there are bigger powers at play behind the scenes.

The series will go into production next month for transmission later this year.

Gabriel Byrne is best-known for his roles in Miller’s Crossing and The Usual Suspects.

Coup is written by Robert Jones (Lennon Naked, Cops, Buried), based on the novel A Very British Coup by Chris Mullin, directed by Ed Fraiman (The Philanthropist, ShakespeaRE-told, A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and produced by Johann Knobel (The Shadow Line, Shameless). Executive Producers are Jason Newmark, Ed Fraiman, George Faber and Charles Pattinson.