Olivia Colman to star as killer in TV crime drama written by her husband

Olivia Colman will play convicted killer Susan Edwards in a new drama series written by her husband Ed Sinclair.

Landscapers, a four-part Sky and HBO original crime drama, is Sinclair’s first television screenplay and comes from the team behind multi award-winning series Chernobyl.

The series, inspired by real events, will explore the lives of convicted killers Susan and Christopher Edwards.

It will question how such a devoted and mild-mannered couple came to kill Susan’s parents and bury them in the back garden of their Mansfield home in a crime that remained undiscovered for more than a decade.

Described as a “blackly comic, narratively playful true crime drama”, it is based on extensive research, hours of interviews and direct access to the accused – who have always protested their innocence of murder.

The series will pivot through various perspectives of the characters, including both Susan and Christopher as well as the police officers and lawyers involved in the investigation.

It will also draw the audience into “the surreal fantasy world that Susan and Christopher created by casting themselves as their Hollywood heroes in stories of their own invention”.

Oscar and Bafta-winning actress Colman said: “I love Ed’s scripts, which is just as well as he cooks many of my meals.

“No, the truth is it’s quite rare to be desperate to play a part on the first reading of a script, but that was the case here. The writing is brave, but subtle and tender too – a joy for any actor.”

Further casting details have yet to be announced for Landscapers, which will start filming next year.

The Crown and The Favourite star Colman and actor and writer Sinclair, who have been married since 2001 and have three children, have launched a new production company called South of the River Pictures which will co-produce the series along with Sister, the award-winning producers of Chernobyl.

Landscapers will be directed by Alexander Payne, who has won two best adapted screenplay Oscars for Sideways and The Descendants.

The series marks the first collaboration between Sky and HBO since nuclear disaster drama Chernobyl aired earlier this year.

Cameron Roach, director of drama at Sky Studios, said: “Ed’s scripts are a riveting and sensitive exploration of what could drive such an ordinary couple to commit murder and I’m delighted that Olivia Colman will bring Susan to life in what promises to be a compelling series.

“And after the success of the multi award-winning Chernobyl, we’re pleased to be working with Sister on another original drama inspired by true events.”

Landscapers will air on Sky Atlantic and Now TV in the UK.