Outlander fans have said they “can’t wait” after star Laura Donnelly bagged a showy role in ITV serial killer thriller The Dark.
The actress – who is known for playing Janet “Jenny” Fraser Murray in the fantasy TV series – will star as detective Monica Kennedy, who is investigating after a crime that strikes fear in a rural community.
Monica gets involved after the body of a young man is found eerily staged in the Scottish wilderness, and according to a synopsis, she “quickly becomes entangled in a heightened game of cat and mouse with a cunning killer”.
“Only she can stop this monster before he claims any more victims,” the description continues.
“But when her own history creeps up on her, she begins to lose trust in her own judgement. Will it be her own actions that are the biggest risk to herself and her family?”
The six-part series is based upon GR Halliday’s debut novel, From The Shadows, and is currently being filmed in and around Glasgow.
Other cast members include Trigger Point’s Mark Rowley as Detective Connor Crawford, while Sexy Beast star Emun Elliott and Cuckoo’s Helen Baxendale will play parents who are scarred by their past and aren’t pleased to see Monica at their door again with a case linked to their missing son.
Rona Morrison, Cal MacAninch, Stella Gonet, Phil McKee, Tunji Kasim and Catherine McCormack also have roles in the chilling new show, which is being produced by Poison Pen Studios, part of ITV Studios.
Laura, 43, said she read the first script of The Dark she “knew it was going to be something special”.
“I’m so excited to work with Poison Pen, ITV and a fantastic cast to create something unique and thrilling and to develop the singular, compelling and complex spirit of DI Monica Kennedy,” added the star, who was in Outlander from 2014 to 2017.
Poison Pen’s Ben Stephenson added his delight at clinching “such an excellent cast” for the prject.
“Laura has shown across her theatre and screen work what an extraordinary, varied and magnetic actress she is – pushing the boundaries of how to bring to life complex women,” he said.
Fans have said they can’t wait for the programme, after Laura posted about it on Instagram. Sharing an article about The Dark, she teased: “Gonna have fun with this one!”
“Cannot WAIT,” one fan responded, as someone else chimed in: “Congratulations – looking forward to seeing this.”
“Oh Laura!!! Yasssssssss!! We are all going to have fun with this!! I cannot wait!” said another viewer.