Introduction

Bodies is a British crime/science fiction limited series primarily written and created for Netflix by Paul Tomalin.

It is based on the 2015 DC Vertigo graphic novel of the same name, written by Si Spencer and illustrated by Dean Ormston, Tula Lotay, Meghan Hetrick and Phil Winslade.

Also known as Project VI (working title, UK).

Outline

The story starts with the appearance of a dead body in Longharvest Lane in London. This event happens in the same location in four different years – 1890, 1941, 2023 and 2053 – and leads to four different detective investigations that eventually become interlinked with far-reaching consequences.

Cast

• Main cast:
  • Jacob Fortune-Lloyd as DS Karl ‘Charles Whiteman’ Weissman (1941)
  • Amaka Okafor as DS Shahara Hasan (2023, 2053)
  • Kyle Soller as DI Alfred Hillinghead (1890)
  • Shira Haas as DC Iris Maplewood (2053)
  • Greta Scacchi as Lady Polly Harker (1941), wife of Sir Julian Harker
  • Tom Mothersdale as The Body / Professor Gabriel Defoe (all)
  • Michael Jibson as DCI Danny Barber (2023), Hasan’s superior and biological father of Elias Mannix
  • Stephen Graham as Commander Elias Mannix / Sir Julian Harker (all)

• Recurring cast:
  • Derek Riddell as DCI Calloway (1941)
  • George Parker as Henry Ashe (1890), a photojournalist
  • Gabriel Howell as Elias Mannix (2023), an estranged 15 year old
  • Synnøve Karlsen as Polly Hillinghead (1890), daughter of Alfred Hillinghead
  • Amy Manson as Charlotte Hillinghead (1890), wife of Alfred Hillinghead

• Guest stars:
  • Jonny Coyne as DI Farrell (1941)
  • Alexandra Roach as Maggie (2023), a forensic investigator
  • Mark Lewis Jones as Andrew Morley (2023), Elias Mannix’s foster parent, Elaine’s husband
  • Kate Ashfield as Elaine Morley (2023), Elias Mannix’s foster parent, Andrew’s wife
  • Anna Calder-Marshall as Lady Agatha Harker (1890)
  • Natalie Gavin as Sarah Mannix (2023), mother of Elias Mannix
  • Kae Alexander as DI Bothroyd (2023), an SO15 detective

Production

Development

The series was announced in February 2022 with Paul Tomalin set as creator and executive producer. Moonage Pictures was set to produce. Danusia Samal also serves as a writer.

Casting

In July 2022, Shira Haas, Stephen Graham, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Kyle Soller, and Amaka Okafor were cast.

Filming

Filming began on 16 May 2022. Joel Devlin serves as the cinematographer. Many scenes filmed in the ‘Old Town’ of Kingston upon Hull, making use of the magnificent Victorian buildings in Hull’s city centre, and some scenes from the series were filmed on board Hornblower Cruises’ boats in York and at the City Cruises Boatyard in York. Harker’s home is Wilberforce House on High Street, Hull. Many of the futuristic scenes were filmed at the University of Leeds and Sheffield’s Little Kelham and Park Hill developments.

The series wrapped on 21 October 2022.

Bodies Series

• Episode 01: You’re Dead Already.
• Episode 02: Do You Know Who I Am?.
• Episode 03: All in Good Time.
• Episode 04: Right Up the Wazoo.
• Episode 05: We Are One Another’s Ghosts.
• Episode 06: The World Is Yours.
• Episode 07: Catch Me If You Can.
• Episode 08: Know You Are Loved.

Trivia

• Based on the 2015 eight issue mini series of graphic novels from Vertigo / DC (Detective Comics).
• Amy Manson and Synnove Karlsen play respectively as mother and daughter, but there is only an eleven year difference between the two.
• At the end of Episode 8 as DS Whiteman is walking along a street in 1941 Whitechapel there are posters for an upcoming piano recital by Polly Hillinghead (the daughter of DI Hillinghead).
  • The poster says the recital is to happen at Wilton’s Music Hall in nearby Shadwell.
  • The Music Hall closed in the 1870s and in 1941 the building was used as a mission hall by the Methodists.
  • It became a music hall again in the 1990s.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Marco Kreuzpaintner … (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Haolu Wang … (4 episodes, 2023)
• Producer(s):
  • Susie Liggat … series producer (8 episodes, 2023)
  • Emma Parsons … co-producer (8 episodes, 2023)
  • Will Gould … executive producer (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Marco Kreuzpaintner … executive producer (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Sophie MacClancy … producer (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Frith Tiplady … executive producer (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Paul Tomalin … executive producer (4 episodes, 2023)
• Writer(s):
  • Si Spencer … (based on the graphic novel written by) (8 episodes, 2023)
  • Paul Tomalin … (written by) (7 episodes, 2023)
  • Paul Tomalin … (series created by) (6 episodes, 2023)
  • Paul Tomalin … (created by) (2 episodes, 2023)
  • Danusia Samal … (written by) (3 episodes, 2023)
• Music:
  • Jon Opstad … (8 episodes, 2023)
• Cinematography:
  • Joel Devlin … (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Paul Morris … (4 episodes, 2023)
• Editor(s):
  • Johannes Hubrich … (5 episodes, 2023)
  • Bobby Good … (2 episodes, 2023)
  • Robbie Morrison … (2 episodes, 2023)
  • Matthew Tabern … (2 episodes, 2023)
• Production:
  • Moonage Pictures
• Distributor(s):
  • Netflix
• Release Date: 19 October 2023 (internet).
• Running Time: 60 minutes.
• Rating: 15.
• Country: UK.
• Language: English.

Video Link(s)