Vigil - What We Know So Far
The British crime drama "Vigil" will soon make its U.S. debut on Peacock, according to Deadline. The six-part series, written and created by Tom Edge, premiered on BBC One in August 2021 and ran through September 26. Edge is primarily known for writing for the Netflix series "The Crown," but he also served as an executive producer and penned scripts for the shows "Lovesick," "You Don't Know Me," and "CB Strike." His other writing credits include the 2019 Judy Garland biopic, "Judy," starring Renée Zellweger, "The Midnight Beast," and the 2016 TV movie "The Last Dragonslayer."
Even though "Vigil" was a huge hit in the U.K., it has not been renewed for a second season. However, according to Deadline, Edge hinted at a second outing the day after the series debut, which brought in the highest number of viewers for a U.K. series in three years.
American audiences have embraced many U.K. series, from "Downton Abbey," to "Peaky Blinders," thanks to their availability on BBC America and multiple streaming platforms. With the popularity of crime procedurals showing no signs of waning and "Vigil" already a hit across the pond, Peacock appears to be hedging its bets the series will find fans among its subscribers.
Here's everything we know about the U.S. release date, cast, and plot of "Vigil."
When will Vigil be released?
In January 2020, Variety reported that "Vigil" was deep in development at BBC with the cast in place and James Strong ("Broadchurch) and Isabelle Sieb ("Shetland") set to direct. Edge also served as an executive producer on the series alongside Simon Heath and Jake Lushington, executive producers for World Productions, the U.K.-based production company behind "Vigil" and the long-running popular BBC police procedural series "Line of Duty."
"Vigil' is a fantastic, adrenalized thriller set in a shadowy world which has stakes for us all," said Piers Wenger, controller of BBC Drama (via Variety).
For U.S. watchers, Peacock is attempting to generate some early buzz for "Vigil," dropping a trailer for the series on December 2. All six episodes will be available for viewing on December 23. "Vigil" will compete against a copious amount of holiday fare but may provide a welcome respite for audiences who have had their fill of sentimental Christmas movies and holiday baking competition shows.
Who is in the cast of Vigil?
Suranne Jones ("Gentleman Jack," "Doctor Foster") plays Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Amy Silva. "...Amy Silva is a brilliantly complex character, thrown into a highly charged situation where her authority is weakened. We watch as she navigates her own personal trauma and loss, all at a time when she's questioning her relationships and life choices," Jones said (via Variety).
Jones leads a large cast of actors who comprise both Scottish and British law enforcement and the crew of the titular nuclear submarine. Even though most of the series regulars' previous work is more familiar to U.K. fans, many of their faces are still recognizable to U.S. audiences. Rose Leslie, Stephen Dillane (Rear Admiral Shaw), and Daniel Portman (Chief Petty Officer Gary Walsh) are all alumni of "Game of Thrones," having played Ygritte, Stannis Baratheon, and Podrick Payne, respectively. Leslie, who plays Detective Sergeant Kirsten Longacre on "Vigil," also appeared on "Downton Abbey" as housemaid Gwen Dawson. Connor Swindells, best known for his role as Adam Groff in "Sex Education," plays engineering officer Hadlow.
Other cast members include Shaun Evans ("Endeavour") as HMS Vigil coxswain Elliot Glover, Paterson Joseph ("The Beach") as Neil Newsome, commander of the HMS Vigil, Gary Lewis ("Billy Elliot") as Detective Superintendent Colin Robertson, and Adam James ("I May Destroy You") as the HMS Vigil's second in command.
What is the plot of Vigil?
Seeing as "Vigil" has already aired in its entirety in the U.K., spoilers abound. But without getting into the nitty-gritty of all the plot details, "Vigil" is a murder mystery that sees a detective trapped with a pool of suspects in a confined space armed with enough firepower to ignite WWIII. Further complicating matters is enough political intrigue to rival a Tom Clancy novel. Detective Chief Inspector Amy Silva of the Scottish Police Service finds herself dealing with these extraordinary circumstances after "a crew member is found dead on board the Trident HMS Vigil." Because the submarine must continue to patrol, "Detective Chief Inspector Amy Silva (Suranne Jones) must go aboard to begin an investigation" (via Deadline).
Meanwhile, on dry land, Silva's ex and fellow detective Longacre (Rose Leslie) begins digging into the life of the victim, Chief Petty Office Craig Burke (Martin Compston). "Although the death was written off as an accidental overdose, Amy suspects foul play. But when the crew close ranks in the face of Amy's questioning, a new threat overshadows her inquiry" (via Deadline).
Tune into Peacock on December 23 to see how it all plays out.