The North Water: Colin Farrell to play harpooner in BBC Arctic whaling drama

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Colin Farrell has joined the cast of BBC Two's upcoming drama The North Water.

The actor will play the whale harpooner Henry Drax in the upcoming four-part thriller, marking his first role on British TV since playing Danny Byrne on the BBC series Ballykissangel in 1998.

The series is based on Ian McGuire's Man Booker Prize longlisted 2016 novel of the same name and is being adapted by 45 Years and Lean on Pete director Andrew Haigh.

Set in the late 1850s, The North Water centres on a former army surgeon, Patrick Sumner, who joins a whaling expedition to the Arctic, led by Farrell's murderous captain.

The journey, though, is ill-fated, and Sumner finds himself struggling to survive in the harsh Arctic wasteland.

Haigh said of casting Farrell: "Casting the right leads is the most important part of any project and I'm thrilled to have Colin Farrell on board.

"I am a huge admirer of his work and can't wait to see him bring Drax vividly to life."

The series will be produced by See-Saw Films for BBC Two and filming begins this autumn.

Piers Wenger, controller of BBC Drama, said: "Colin Farrell will bring a blend of brutality and humanity to Andrew Haigh's superb adaptation of this savage novel.

"The North Water is a brooding and resonant story which is set to grip BBC Two viewers."

Farrell can next be seen in cinemas starring in Tim Burton's adaptation of Dumbo.