The Siege of Iran Embassy: New Series by Slow Horses Writer

Danny Dyer, David Morrissey and Motaz Malhees are set to star in “The Siege,” a six-part limited series for Channel 4 dramatizing the 1980 Iranian embassy hostage crisis in London. The series, adapted from Ben Macintyre’s best-selling book of the same name, began filming earlier this month, according to Channel 4. The drama will recount the events of April 30, 1980, when six armed Arab Iranian separatists seized the Iranian embassy in London, taking 26 people hostage and demanding autonomy for their people. Over the subsequent six days, a tense standoff unfolded between the hostage-takers, the hostages, and the police, while the Special Air Service (SAS) prepared a daring mission to end the siege. Will Smith, known for his work on “Slow Horses” and “Veep,” penned the adaptation. BAFTA-winning director Lewis Arnold (“Time,” “Des”) is helming the production, which is a co-venture between AC Chapter One, Channel 4, Universal International Studios, and Arte France. Patrick Spence, who executive produced “Mr Bates vs The Post Office” and “A Spy Among Friends,” is too executive producing “The Siege.” Joining Dyer, Morrissey, and Malhees are Leo Bill, Kevin Doyle, Alex Jennings, Alexej Manvelov, Sara Shirpey, Omid Djalili, Nicola Stephenson, Stephen Campbell Moore, Sean Pertwee, Enzo Cilenti, Sam Troughton, Iddo Goldberg, Armin Karima, Asim Chaudhry, and Moe Bar-El. Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer, Ian Katz, described the series as a “heart-stopping, emotional thriller” that will reveal the motivations of the hostage-takers and the realities faced by those inside the embassy during the crisis. Katz also stated the series will demonstrate “how close the famous SAS operation came to disaster.” The production of “The Siege” comes as protests continue in Iran against the current leadership and economic inequality, issues that have drawn international condemnation. Macintyre’s book, published two years ago, is considered a definitive account of the siege, building on his reputation as an authority on the subject, including his work on the SAS: Rogue Heroes source material, which was previously adapted into a BBC-MGM+ series. Motaz Malhees, who gained recognition for his role in the Oscar-nominated film “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” will play a key character in the series. Malhees, a Palestinian actor, has been a prominent voice advocating for Palestinian rights amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas War.