Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes
| Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Screenplay by | Jeff Pope |
| Directed by | Paul Andrew Williams |
| Starring | |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Jeff Pope Lee Mason Kwadjo Dajan Paul Andrew Williams |
| Producer | Kwadjo Dajan |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | Disney+ |
| Release | 30 April 2025 |
Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes is a 2025 British television miniseries about the 2005 killing of Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezes by London police. Written by Jeff Pope, it stars Edison Alcaide, Daniel Mays, Russell Tovey, Laura Aikman, Alex Jennings, Conleth Hill, Emily Mortimer and Max Beesley. It was released on Disney+ on 30 April 2025.
Premise
[edit]The series documents the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes by officers of the Metropolitan Police Service at Stockwell station on the London Underground after he was wrongly deemed to be one of the fugitives involved in the previous day's failed bombing attempts.[1]
Cast
[edit]- Edison Alcaide as Jean Charles de Menezes
- Daniel Mays as Cliff Todd
- Conleth Hill as Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair
- Russell Tovey as Deputy Assistant Commissioner Brian Paddick
- Max Beesley as Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman
- Emily Mortimer as Commander Cressida Dick
- Laura Aikman as Independent Police Complaints Commission secretary Lana Vandenberghe
- Alex Jennings as Michael Mansfield QC
- Rodrigo Ternevoy as Giovani de Menezes
Production
[edit]The four-part series is written by Jeff Pope, and was commissioned by Disney+ in June 2023.[2] Written by Jeff Pope, it is produced by Kwadjo Dajan and ITV Studios-backed Etta Pictures.[3] Jean De Menezes' parents and other relatives served as consultants for the series. The producer is Kwadjo Dajan, and the director is Paul Andrew Williams. The production company is Etta Pictures, which is part of ITV Studios, in association with Kwadjo Dajan’s KDJ Productions. Pope, Dajan and Williams also serve as executive producers. The series is executive-produced for Disney+ by Lee Mason.[4][5][2][6] Filming was underway in London in October that year;[7][8][9] later that month, scenes were filmed at Stockwell tube station over several days and nights. Objections were raised when production recreated the aftermath of the 7 July 2005 London bombings close to the location of the incident.[10][11] On 6 November, Disney released a statement to the press defending itself and its methods in recreating the events for the purpose of making a factual dramatisation.[12][13]
The cast is led by Edison Alcaide with the ensemble cast including Daniel Mays, Russell Tovey, Laura Aikman, Alex Jennings, Conleth Hill, Emily Mortimer and Max Beesley.[14]
Release
[edit]The series was made available in the United Kingdom on Disney+ from 30 April 2025.[15]
Reception
[edit]Phil Harrison for The Guardian described it as a "tense rendering of the events " and "rightly severe on the Met’s top brass but, crucially, never forgets the story of the blameless victim – played stoically and sensitively by Edison Alcaide.".[16] Anita Singh for The Telegraph gave the series three out of five, feeling the series to be dramatic and sensationalist, and the lack of focus on Meneze as a person.[17]
See also
[edit]- Jean Charles (2009 film)
References
[edit]- ^ Lewis, Isobel (7 November 2023). "Disney defends itself after backlash to 'tasteless' 7/7 bombing scene in new drama". The Independent. Archived from the original on 19 April 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Jean Charles de Menezes: Police killing is turned into Disney+ TV series". The Times. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ Dalton, Ben (22 June 2023). "'Philomena' writer Jeff Pope to make Disney+ series 'Suspect: The Shooting Of Jean Charles de Menezes'". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on 17 February 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ Goldbart, Max (18 February 2025). "Disney+ Unveils Cast For Jean Charles De Menezes Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ Ford, Lily (18 February 2025). "Disney+ Sets Cast for Drama About Scotland Yard's Killing of Innocent Man Jean Charles de Menezes". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 18 February 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ "Disney+ Making Drama On Shooting Of Jean Charles De Menezes From Jeff Pope". Deadline. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ "Landmark Disney+ Limited Drama Series "Suspect: The Shooting Of Jean Charles de Menezes" Commences Filming In London" (press release). DISNEY+. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Disey+ commences filming on Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Meneze". Advanced Television. 3 October 2023.
- ^ "Disney+'s 'Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes' Starts Filming in October in London". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
- ^ "Passers-by in Bermondsey shocked by exploded bus film set that 'looked real'". Southwark News. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Disney under fire as 7/7 victims claim they weren't told disaster would be re-created for TV drama". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
- ^ "Disney defends itself after backlash to 'tasteless' 7/7 bombing scene in new drama". The Independent. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ "Disney stands by 7/7 bombing aftermath scenes in new drama". BBC. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
- ^ Rowan, Iona (18 February 2025). "Daniel Mays joins impressive ensemble cast for devastating true story UK drama". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 18 February 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ Jessop, Vicky (18 February 2025). "Exclusive: Russell Tovey, Daniel Mays and Emily Mortimer set to star in new Jean Charles de Menezes drama". Evening Standard. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ Harrison, hil (25 April 2025). "The Four Seasons to Flintoff: the seven best shows to stream this week". Retrieved 29 April 2025.
- ^ Singh, Anita (30 April 2025). "Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, review: Disney turns the Met police into villains". Retrieved 8 July 2025.
