Netflix Boards “The Serpent”

Tahar Rahim. Photo by Michael Buckner/Deadline/Shutterstock (9669553ak)

Netflix and the BBC have teamed up to produce The Serpent.

The drama will star Tahar Rahim as a French serial killer Charles Sobhraj who was discovered and trailed by a young diplomat in mid-1970s Southeast Asia and who escaped prison more than once per Variety.

Tom Shankland will direct the eight-part series penned by Richard Warlow. 

“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’re excited to grow our partnership with the BBC alongside Mammoth Screen and bring this gripping story led by the brilliant Tahar Rahim to our members around the world,” said Brian Pearson, Netflix’s vice president for content acquisition.

The series will be streamed worldwide on Netflix.