‘Magpie Murders’ producers are bringing back ‘Rebus’ with a new cast

There’s going to be a new version of Rebus, from the makers of Magpie Murders.

Set in Edinburgh and featuring Detective Inspector John Rebus, there have been 24 of the internationally bestselling Rebus novels over the past 35 years.

It’s been announced today that author Sir Ian Rankin has teamed up with Eleventh Hour Films to produce a brand new Rebus series!

Eleventh Hour Films are the production company behind crime dramas Foyle’s War, Safe House, Collision, and recent BritBox hit Magpie Murders, so the character is in safe hands.

Currently airing on PBS, here’s the trailer for Magpie Murders:

Viaplay’s “major reimagining” of Rebus is being written by screenwriter and acclaimed theatre writer Gregory Burke (’71), alongside Sir Ian Rankin as executive producer.

Rankin commented: “I’m hugely excited at the thought of Rebus returning to our screens and it’s a privilege to have Gregory Burke write the scripts. I’ve been a fan since Gagarin Way and know that he understands the world of Rebus and the compelling central character.”

Executive producer Jill Green added: “Sir Ian Rankin and Gregory Burke are the dream duo. They will ensure that Rebus delivers in a truly authentic, exciting and fresh way.”

Burke has written “a compelling new story” for the six-part series, which begins filming in Edinburgh next spring.

Rankin’s Rebus books were previously adapted by ITV between 2000 and 2007, with John Hannah (Sliding Doors) and later Ken Stott (The Hobbit) playing the title character.

The official synopsis for the new series reads: “Rebus is in his 30s, recently divorced and demoted to Detective Sergeant. He has a new colleague, Detective Constable Siobhan Clarke, and is struggling to deal with the changes in his personal and professional life.

“At the same time, Rebus’s daughter, Sammy, and ex-wife, Rhona, are enjoying an affluent existence with Rhona’s new partner – while Rebus’s brother Michael is finding out that in a society where the gaps between the ‘haves and have-nots’ keep widening, taking shortcuts to provide for your family is no longer a temptation, but a necessity.”

Ken Stott’s replacement as John Rebus will be announced soon.

Viaplay launched in the UK this week, and will be arriving in the US, Canada, Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 2023.

Sir Ian Rankin’s latest Rebus book, A Heart Full of Headstones, was published earlier this year.

The original Rebus series is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.