HBO and the BBC have shown off the first look at Half Man, an upcoming original drama from Richard Gadd, the creator of the Emmy-winning Baby Reindeer.
What is Richard Gadd’s new show about?
Half Man follows a pair of estranged brothers, Niall (Jamie Bell) and Ruben (Gadd). After Ruben shows up at Niall’s wedding, it leads to “an explosion of violence that catapults us back through their lives.” The series spans across 40 years, from the 1980s to present day, and explores the highs and lows of Ruben and Niall’s relationship.
Half Man will debut in 2026 on HBO Max. Check out the first look images from the show below:
Alongside Gadd and Bell, Half Man also stars Stuart Campbell, Mitchell Robertson, Neve McIntosh, Marianne McIvor, Charlie De Melo, Bilal Hasna, Julie Cullen, Amy Manson, Philippine Velge, Stuart McQuarrie, Piers Ewart, Scot Greenan, Charlotte Blackwood, and Calum Manchip.
Half Man is created, written, and executive produced by Gadd. Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck direct the series.
“When Niall’s estranged “brother” Ruben shows up at his wedding, it leads to an explosion of violence that catapults us back through their lives,” reads the official synopsis of the series. “Spanning almost 40 years from the 1980s to the present day, Mitchell Robertson and Stuart Campbell portray Niall (Robertson) and Ruben (Campbell) in their younger years, in a series that explores the highs and lows of Ruben and Niall’s relationship, from meeting them as troubled teenagers to witnessing their falling out as adults – with all the good, bad, terrible, funny, angry, and challenging moments along the way. The series will capture the wild energy of a changing city – a changing world, even – and plumb the depths of what it means to be a man.”
