Netflix Boards “The Serpent”

Netflix has boarded the BBC drama The Serpent based on the true story of French serial killer Charles Sobhraj. 

Starring as the lead is Tahar Rahim. Tom Shankland will direct the eight-part series penned by Richard Warlow. 

According to Variety, the drama follows a junior diplomat from the Dutch Embassy in Bangkok as he unwittingly walks into the web of crime that leads him to chase down the murderer in the twilight years of the Asian Hippie Trail.

“I am thrilled to play Charles Sobhraj in The Serpent, a role I have dreamed of portraying since I read a book about him when I was 17 years old,” Rahim said. “I couldn’t be happier than to make it under the direction of Tom Shankland and writers Richard Warlow and Toby Finlay.”

“We are delighted to have the brilliant Tahar Rahim play our leading man in The Serpent and for him to unravel Sobhraj’s dark web of deceit, crime and murder in this fascinating true story for BBC One,” said Piers Wenger, controller of BBC drama.

The series will be stream worldwide on Netflix.