Game of Thrones actor Kit Harington is set to produce a television thriller about a hotshot who finds out his family is operating a drug ring, Deadline reports. The actor and his co-producer Daniel West (Top Boy) described the working title, Empire of Dirt, as a “very British Western.”
According to the outlet, the project will consist of eight episodes and will follow a character named Jake, who — after 15 long years — unwillingly returns to his family farm in the Lake District for his cousin’s wedding. Things will eventually take a turn for the worse when a tragic accident suddenly makes him the head of his family. After an unfortunate series of events, Jake will soon find out that his father has been operating a multimillion-pound drug racket.
Will Kit Harrington star in the series?
Aside from the show’s premise, there are currently no other details available. This includes release dates and cast members on board. While it is likely Harrington could play the lead, nothing has been confirmed yet.
New Pictures CEO Willow Grylls described Harrington and West’s project as a “thrilling, dangerous and fun” show but “always with a searing emotional core.”
Both Harrington and West described their project as a “very British Western, set against the Lake District’s stunning visual backdrop.” They added, “The Galloways are a family fighting to survive, wrestling with their identity, trauma and the burden of inheritance, as ancient traditions collide with the mores of modern Britain.”
The announcement comes as exciting news given the recent success of Western television shows like Yellowstone and The English.
This isn’t the first time Harrington collaborated with West for a TV project. They both worked on the miniseries Gunpowder, which was developed for the BBC by Harrington, West, and Ronan Bennett. Harrington starred in the series as Robert Catesby alongside Peter Mullan, Mark Gatiss, and Liv Tyler.
