Jason Isaacs will play the Hollywood great Cary Grant in a new four-episode biopic for ITVX, it has been announced.
Called Archie, the drama will trace the actor's roots from early 20th century Bristol, his troubled childhood family life and his rise to global superstar.
The scripts come from Jeff Pope, known for Oscar-nominated films Stan & Ollie and Philomena, and the project has been developed with the blessing of Cary's beloved daughter Jennifer Grant.
"There was only one Cary Grant and I'd never be foolish enough to try to step into his iconic shoes," said Isaacs. "Archie Leach, on the other hand, couldn't be further from the character he invented to save himself.
"Jeff's brilliant scripts bring to life his relentless struggle to escape the demons that plagued him, his obsessive need for control, his fears, his weaknesses, his loves and his losses. It's the story of a man, not a legend, and those are shoes I can't wait to walk in."
Jennifer Grant, now 56 and an exec producer of the drama, said: "My father was an extremely private man, so naturally, when Jeff Pope approached me with the idea to write Dad's life story, I was trepidatious at best.
"Jeff's thoughtfully intelligent understanding of Dad's boyhood won me over. My father's formative years as Archie Leach in Bristol, England, and the extraordinary challenges he faced, lie at the heart of 'Archie'.
"Cary Grant is emblematic of charm, wit and grace, but unknown to most are the enormous challenges he overcame to create himself."
The show will premiere on ITV's new streaming service ITVX in 2023.
Neil Wilkes
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