James Norton has revealed his ‘brave decision’ to turn down a major role because he didn’t want to be typecast.
The 39-year-old actor – who is rumored to be in line for the role of James Bond – has told how he decided not to take on the villain in his new ITV thriller Playing Nice.
James plays the role of father Pete in the new show, which comes out in January and follows the story of two families whose babies are switched at birth.
At the beginning of the project, he took on the role of villain Miles on the show, but as things progressed, he realized he wanted to play the nice guy.
He has taken on a series of villain roles over the years, most notably the murderer and psychopath Tommy Lee Royce in the BBC series Happy Valley.
He told it The mirror of being typecast: ‘You’re doing a Second World War drama, and you get to be a historian at the British Library, for however long, and you have an emotional connection with that particular piece of history.
James Norton has revealed his ‘brave decision’ to turn down a certain role because he didn’t want to be typecast
The 39-year-old actor – who is rumored to be in line for the James Bond role – has told how he decided not to take on the villain in his new ITV thriller Playing Nice
‘If you do really well, you’ll get a few more offers for World War II dramas coming your way.
“And the courageous thing is to say no to that and think, ‘Okay, we’re going to take a different route and try to keep learning, keep expanding.'”
He added his role as the nice guy in Playing Nice and teased further projects, saying: “Well, now that I’ve done the nice guy thing, I might go back. I don’t know, we’ll see. The next thing is always a surprise.”
James is set to make an exciting return to screens as he helms ITV’s new psychological thriller Playing Nice – and fans have been given a sneak peek this week.
He is joined by a stellar cast including Niamh Algar from Channel 4’s The Virtues Fame, James McArdle from HBO’s Mare Of Easttown and Jessica Brown Findlay, from Downton Abbey.
Previous images of James and Niamh’s characters sparked interest among fans. However, a new set of snapshots and the show’s first trailer reveal the actors embodying their roles.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Cornwall’s dramatic coastline, where filming took place earlier this year, Playing Nice promises to be visually appealing to viewers.
The trailer, released this week, opens with a clip of James and Niamh dipping their feet in the sea as they spend some quality time with their son on the beach.
At the beginning of the project, he took on the role of villain Miles on the show, but as things progressed, he realized he wanted to play the nice guy.
James stars as dad Pete in the new show, out in January, which follows the story of two families whose babies are switched at birth
Then things take a somber turn when you hear a doctor say in a voiceover, “There’s no easy way to say this, but we have reason to believe that Theo is not your biological son.”
James looks perplexed as he says, “What are you talking about?” before the doctor shockingly reveals: ‘We think you left the hospital with another couple’s son and they left with your son.’
James then meets the father and mother of his biological son and tells them that they want to keep their son Theo, with the couple agreeing that they all want the same thing. However, things soon take a dramatic turn.
Written by Grace Ofori-Attah, of ITV’s Malpractice fame, the screenplay adapts JP Delaney’s critically acclaimed novel for the small screen.
Playing Nice follows a gripping story about two families who become entangled in a nightmarish scenario when they learn that their sons were accidentally switched at birth due to a hospital blunder.
Faced with a painful decision, they must choose between the children they raised and their biological descendants.
As the plot progresses, ‘hidden motives’ emerge, questioning the trust between the couples and pushing Pete (played by James) and Maddie (played by Niamh) to the edge.
During the series, it initially appears that all four parties have found common ground for a solution, only for mysterious motives to emerge.
As suspicions mount, questions arise about the trustworthiness of the child’s “real” parents, and even among themselves.
Pete and Maddie find themselves at a breaking point as they prepare to go to extremes to ensure their family remains intact.
ITV drama commissioner Helen Perry has praised Playing Nice as an extremely compelling thriller.
Helen commented: ‘Playing Nice is a compelling thriller centering on a complex moral dilemma.’
He has taken on a series of villainous roles over the years, most notably the murderer and psychopath Tommy Lee Royce in the BBC series Happy Valley.
‘The story will not only captivate the audience but also provoke introspection, causing them to consider their own responses to such a situation.’
She added: ‘Not only will viewers be hooked, they’ll also be asking themselves, “What would I do…?” While Grace Ofori-Attah’s excellent script raises questions about the nature of parenthood and how far we will go for those we love.”
Helen then shared her excitement about the talent involved in the production, saying: ‘We’re thrilled to have such a great cast and crew on board, and we’re thrilled to be working with the team at STUDIOCANAL and Rabbit . Track Pictures to bring this fantastic adaptation to ITV1 and ITVX.”
Nice will air on ITV1 and ITVX from January 5.