The six-part high-octane thriller is set between an all-night plane flight from London to Beijing and the corridors of power within Whitehall.
Written by Peter A. Dowling - his television debut - and Jingan Young, Red Eye, set between an all-night plane flight from London to Beijing and the corridors of power within Whitehall, stars Jing Lusi and Richard Armitage with Lesley Sharp.
Told over an adrenaline-filled six parts and produced by Bad Wolf, Red Eye starts with Dr Matthew Nolan, played by Richard Armitage, who arrives home after attending a medical conference in Beijing and coming frighteningly close to dying in a car crash.
However, he is immediately arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport. Exhausted and confused, Nolan is accused of the murder of a woman who was in the car he crashed. Despite his protests that he was driving alone, Nolan is set to return to China to face charges.
DC Hana Li, played by Jing Lusi, is the no-nonsense, London officer charged with accompanying Nolan back to Beijing. Her resentment for this assignment, and of Nolan himself, is immediate.
However, in flight, when a first death occurs, DC Li begins to suspect foul play. Further deaths confirm that Nolan is in danger, and after a call from MI5, Hana finds herself embroiled in an escalating conspiracy.
Back in London, we follow Hana’s sister, scrappy, Gen Z, reporter Jess Li, played by Jemma Moore, who is running her own investigation into Nolan’s extradition and finds herself running for her life from an unknown assassin.
And in Thames House, the head of MI5, Madeline Delaney, played by Lesley Sharp, breaks protocol and risks her entire career to not only help Hana and Nolan stay alive, but to expose an international conspiracy that seems to implicate both China and people in her own government.
Speaking about taking on the part of DC Hana Li, Jing Lusi said "Red Eye marks a turning point in British Asian representation and I am beyond thrilled and proud to be leading this series alongside the wonderful Richard Armitage. Bad Wolf is one of the most exciting production companies in the world, making some of the best loved and most respected shows today; and I’m sure Red Eye will be breaking new ground."
To which Richard Armitage added "I’m excited to be boarding Red Eye alongside Jing Lusi. This action-packed espionage thriller is one of the best scripts I have read in a long time. Thrilled to be reuniting with the brilliant Julie Gardner and the team at Bad Wolf and Sony… what a ride!"
Red Eye will be directed by Kieron Hawked produced by Kristian Dench and executive produced by Julie Gardner and Lachlan MacKinnon.
ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill, who commissioned the drama, said "Red Eye is a brilliantly addictive thriller with an international story taking place on the red eye flight from Heathrow to Beijing."
"Thanks to Peter’s scripts, the story will have the audience gripped and continually surprised throughout. It’s got a fantastic cast led by Jing Lusi and Richard Armitage, and we are delighted to be working with Bad Wolf on this exciting new show."
To which Bad Wolf’s Director of Content, Dan McCulloch, who developed and oversaw the project, added "Red Eye is Bad Wolf’s first contemporary action thriller and we’re so happy for it to have found its home at ITV. We’re delighted to be working with such a talented cast."
"Peter’s scripts are the very definition of a page turner and will keep you guessing to the last minute. The producing team aspire to the highest ambition whilst Kieron Hawkes’ craft and performance-focused direction all makes for true appointment to view TV."
Red Eye will be directed by Kieron Hawked produced by Kristian Dench and executive produced by Julie Gardner and Lachlan MacKinnon.
Red Eye will air in 2024 on ITVX