Matthew Rhys Takes on the Role of Celebrated British Journalist Harold Evans in BBC’s ‘Dragon Slayers’
Matthew Rhys to Headline BBC Drama ‘Dragon Slayers’
Matthew Rhys is set to star in a new BBC drama that delves into the remarkable career of one of the UK’s most celebrated journalists, Harry Evans. Known for his roles in The Americans and Beast in Me, Rhys will portray the former Sunday Times editor in Dragon Slayers, a series that promises to encapsulate essential chapters of 20th-century journalistic investigation.
The drama, set in the 1970s, will cover key stories from Evans’ tenure, including the Thalidomide controversy, the investigation into the DC-10 crash—the deadliest aviation disaster at the time—and the complex exposé of Kim Philby, one of the most notorious spies of the 20th century.
Written by Peter Bowker, known for The A Word, Dragon Slayers will be grounded in rigorous research, published works, and testimonials from individuals close to Evans, including his widow Tina Brown, an esteemed editor, author, and journalist.
Produced by Patrick Bates of Anonymous Content in collaboration with Universal International Studios, Dragon Slayers is part of a broader initiative that also includes a Channel 4 drama about the 1980 Iranian embassy siege and an ITV thriller featuring Sheridan Smith.
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, remarked, “Dragon Slayers is a rollercoaster story, each episode gripping and powerful, written with Pete Bowker’s signature wit and sense of purpose. The investigative stories which were broken by Harry and his team carry as much power and purpose today as they did at the time. It’s a real coup that the wonderful Matthew Rhys will star as the iconic Harry Evans.”
Commissioned by Salt, Dragon Slayers is executive produced by Bowker, alongside Annalisa Dinnella, Al Mackay as director, and includes contributions from Rhys, Joe Williams, and producer Natasha Romaniuk. Casting will be managed by Shaheen Baig, while the series will be distributed by NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution.
