Damson Idris Is a New Generation of Spy in 'The Lord's Day'
Damson Idris will be a 21st-century spy in Netflix’s forthcoming adaptation of Michael Dobbs’s best-selling novel, The Lord’s Day.
It is a truth none of want to acknowledge, but Idris Elba is too old to play James Bond. He missed the window by a good decade and a half, which is probably for the best, even if Amazon hadn’t gotten its grubby little hands on it. Instead, we’re going to get the 21st-century version with Damson Idris (Black Mirror) in Netflix’s forthcoming adaptation of Michael Dobbs’s best-selling novel, The Lord’s Day.
It’s been a minute since Netflix concluded its first Dobbs adaptation, House of Cards, the show that put the streaming service on the map. The six-season series ended rather clumsily in 2018 after terminating star Kevin Spacey following allegations of sexual misconduct. But that was nearly a decade ago, and with Amazon now beginning to make moves towards whatever it plans to do to Ian Fleming’s character, it would behoove Netflix to get there first, and get there with a splash.
Despite the success of both House of Cards adaptations, the Harry Jones books are not a property that’s been adapted before; something recently highlighted by their recent induction into The Queen’s Reading Room. That also means there are no preconceived notions by an older white male British fandom to complain about. Moreover, Idris has been one of those actors on the cusp of breaking out for the past few years. The British-Nigerian actor was remarkable as Franklin in FX’s Snowfall, one of those shows that flew under the radar at the height of Peak TV, and was one of the many actors who have passed through the seminal Black Mirror.
Here’s the forthcoming series synopsis.
On the State Opening of Parliament, British spy Harry Jones finds himself inside the iconic building amidst a lockdown. As the siege escalates, loyalties are tested and selfless sacrifices are made, leading to a desperate fight for survival where not everyone will emerge alive. Can Harry use his skills and training to be the country’s saviour?
Idris stars as Harry Jones; the rest of the cast is expected to be announced in due course.
If Netflix is successful in launching the Harry Jones books, there’s a good stash of them written that could spawn into a full-on franchise. In addition to the 2007 debut novel, The Lord’s Day, Dobbs also wrote five more, ending with 2013’s A Ghost at the Door.
The show has a fairly solid lineup behind the camera, with Vincent and Jonathan Brackley (MI-5) having signed on to adapt the novel into six episodes, with director Ben Chanan (of the deeply slept-on The Capture) helming all installments. All three executive produce alongside Idris, and Jane Tranter & Dan McCulloch for Bad Wolf.
Filming is expected to begin on The Lord’s Day in the first half of 2026; I wouldn’t count on seeing this until at least mid-2027, if not 2028.
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