Ray Winstone (The Sweeney) will lead the cast of the two-part adaptation of John Meade Falkner’s novel, alongside Aneurin Barnard (We’ll Take Manhattan).
Set in the small Dorset village of Moonfleet, the story sees young John Trenchard (Barnard) desperate to join the local band of smugglers led by Elzevir Block (Winstone). Together they embark on an adventure full of action, friendship and humour, and hunt for a fabled lost diamond. Their journey takes them from 18th Century Dorset, to the Jewel quarter of The Hague and on to a gripping, final sea voyage.
Ray Winstone comments: “I’m incredibly excited to be working with Sky – I can’t wait to start filming and it’s a real honour to be bringing such an epic adventure story to life.”
Sophie Cookson will play John’s first love, Grace who is also the daughter of Moonfleet’s anti-smuggling magistrate, Mohune, played by Ben Chaplin (Mad Dogs). The cast also includes Omid Djalili (Gladiator) as diamond merchant Aldobrand and Martin Trenaman (The Inbetweeners) as the Turnkey, with Lorcan Cranitch (Silent Witness) and Anthony Ofoegbu (Spooks) as Elzevir’s fellow smugglers, Meech and Loder.
Moonfleet begins filming in and around Dublin this summer and will air on Sky1 later this year.
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