Created by Tom Hardy, his father Chips Hardy and Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders, Eastern Promises), Taboo is FXs newest drama miniseries. The show premiers tonight, January 10th at 10 pm EST and follows James Keziah Delaney (Tom Hardy) who has been forever changed by his adventures and is looking to build a new life for himself in early 19th century London. FX official synopsis on the series reads:
Believed to be long dead, he returns home to London from Africa to inherit what is left of his father's shipping empire and rebuild a life for himself. But his father's legacy is a poisoned chalice, and with enemies lurking in every dark corner, James must navigate increasingly complex territories to avoid his own death sentence. Encircled by conspiracy, murder and betrayal, a dark family mystery unfolds in a combustible tale of love and treachery.
Get to know each of the mysterious characters that will pop up in the show's first season.
Tom Hardy as James Keziah Delaney
After the death of his father, James returns to London and soon finds himself embroiled in mystery and murder that stems from Nootka Sound, a piece of land he's inherited on the West Coast of Vancouver Island (now part of British Columbia) . The piece of coastline is sought after by the powerful East India Company for its function as a trade route.
The idea for the series didn't come about in a Hollywood writer's room, but started as a conversation between father and son. "It started off as a conversation between me and my father... but the piece is now something unrecognizable from that conversation and it belongs to an entire team of people," Hardy told Digital Spy. The Oscar-nominated actor has of course turned heads in a number of roles ranging from The Revenant to Mad Max: Fury Road. His next projects on the horizon include Mad Max: Wasteland to Star Wars Episode VIII.
Jonathan Pryce as Sir Stuart Strange
Head of the ruthless East India Company, Sir Stuart Strange is set on one goal -- do whatever it takes to seize control of James Delaney's inherited piece of land. Welsh actor Jonathan Pryce will be recognizable to audiences for his parts in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Tomorrow Never Dies and Game of Thrones playing High Sparrow. Pryce will appear with Christian Slater and Glen Close later this year in the drama The Wife.
Oona Chaplin as Zilpha Geary
Sister to James, Zilpha believes her brother to be dead and is taken by surprise when he shows up in London. James' return home forces her to deal with the issue of her deceased father's land that she believed would be given to her and her husband Thorne Geary. Played by Spanish actress and granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, Game of Thrones fans will likely remember Oona in her role as the now deceased Talisa Stark.
David Hayman as Brace
The eyes of the Delaney family, Brace plays the family servant who welcomes James upon his return. Scottish actor David Hayman has been seen in a number of films ranging from Sid and Nancy to The Jackal and Rob Roy.
Jessie Buckley as Lorna Bow
Not many details are known yet about Lorna Bow's role in Taboo or exactly how she factors into James' life. The 27-year-old Irish actress began her performing career as a musician, training at the Royal Irish Academy of Music before entering the BBC talent show I'd Do Anything. The young actress earned critical praise for her role in the 2016 BBC version of War and Peace.
Michael Kelly as Dr. Dumbarton
Fans of Netflix's House of Cards will recognize actor Michael Kelly as the sinister Doug and his character in Taboo isn't much nicer. Tension between Britain and the United States plays into Taboo's storyline and American Dumbarton embodies that conflict. Most recently, Kelly starred in the thriller The Secrets in Their Eyes with Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts as well as 2015's Everest and an episode of the BBC's Black Mirror.
Jefferson Hall as Thorne Geary
Husband to Zilpha, Thorne doesn't take the news well that his brother-in-law James has rights to the coastline on Nootka Sound. It's likely he'll go behind James' back and conspire with the East India Company. English actor Jefferson Hall is probably most recognizable for his work Vikings and Game of Thrones.
Leo Bill as Benjamin Wilton
Wilton works for the East India Company and will do whatever it takes to try and convince James Delaney to part with his piece of coastline. Actor Leo Bill is likely most recognizable to American audiences for his roles in 28 Days Later, Alice in Wonderland and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.
Danny Ligairi as Martinez
Not much is known about the character of Martinez except that his believed to be of Polynesian descent according to the Daily Mail. Oddly enough rugby coach turned actor, Danny Ligairi landed the part after striking up a friendship with Tom Hardy when Hardy's dog ran onto the field when Ligairi was coaching.
Richard Dixon as Pettifer
One of Sir Stuart Strange's closest confidants, Pettifer serves as a go-to resource for the East India Company when they run into trouble in their negotiations with James. You might recognize actor Richard Dixon from his roles in such films as The King's Speech, The Danish Girl or The Iron Lady.