Richard Gadd’s dark new HBO drama ‘Half Man’ drops a tense first trailer
HBO and BBC have released the first trailer for Half Man, the new six-episode drama from Baby Reindeer creator Richard Gadd and co-star Jamie Bell, premiering today on HBO Max in the US, a prestige-TV event arriving with serious buzz.
TL;DR
- Half Man is a six-part drama created, written, and starring Richard Gadd, also featuring Jamie Bell, launching April 23 on HBO Max.
- The story follows estranged “brothers” Ruben and Niall across 40 years, from the 1980s to the present day.
- UK audiences can stream it free on BBC iPlayer from April 24, 2026, with the BBC One broadcast following on April 28.
- The series had its world premiere as the opening show of Canneseries 2026.
What is Half Man about?
The six-part drama follows Ruben, played by Gadd, and Niall, played by Bell, brothers in all but name who grew up together as polar opposites but remained inseparable. Where Niall is mild-mannered, Ruben is shifty and dangerous.
When Ruben arrives at Niall’s wedding, everything seems different. He is on edge, shifty, not acting like himself, and soon an explosion of violence catapults the audience back through their lives, from the ’80s to the present day.
Rounding out the cast are Mitchell Robertson and Stuart Campbell as the younger versions of Niall and Ruben respectively.
The creative team behind the show
Half Man is produced by Banijay UK’s Mam Tor Productions in association with Gadd’s Thistledown Pictures, for HBO, BBC iPlayer, BBC One, and BBC Scotland.
Gadd created, wrote, and executive produced the series alongside Sophie Gardiner, Anna O’Malley, Gaynor Holmes for the BBC, and Gavin Smith for BBC Scotland. Alexandra Brodski and Eshref Reybrouck directed.
The series had its world premiere as the opening series of Canneseries 2026, with principal photography having taken place in Glasgow, Scotland.
Why this matters: Gadd’s first major series since Baby Reindeer
HBO’s official press release confirms Half Man as one of the network’s major limited drama launches for spring 2026, Gadd’s first major series since Baby Reindeer became a breakout hit and cultural flashpoint.
Gadd and Bell are doing what early critics are already calling career-best work. As Ruben ages, Gadd finds a slower, heavier physicality; as his counterpoint, Bell taps into a brokenness and glass-eyed sorrow that has to be seen to be believed.
The series was announced by BBC One as far back as February 2024 before HBO formally came aboard four months later, a sign of early confidence in the project.
You can also read more about the latest big TV trailers over at A24 drops full Elden Ring cast as cameras roll in London and Marvel is bringing Avengers: Endgame back with new footage.
UK release: when and where to watch Half Man
For UK audiences, Half Man premieres on BBC iPlayer on April 24, 2026, at 6am BST, free to stream with no subscription required, with the BBC One and BBC Scotland broadcast following on April 28.
The series carries a strong British creative fingerprint: Gadd is Scottish, filming took place in Glasgow, and the BBC co-commission means it arrives on domestic free-to-air television within days of its US debut.
Sources
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed April 23, 2026.
Lewis Calvert Founder & Editor, BriefLedger
Lewis founded BriefLedger and has six years of experience covering film, TV, and entertainment news. He leads the site’s Movies and TV sections and runs the news desk — always with a straight-talking British take.
