Fantasay Advent Day 14: Matthew Lewis to star in a murder mystery

It's been great to see Harry Potter actors branch off in new and exciting directions. Daniel Radcliffe won a Tony award for musical theater. Rupert Grint has had many television and film roles across a variety of genres. Emma Watson has been a UN Women's Goodwill Ambassador and advocated for gender equality in between her acting projects. Matthew Lewis, who grew from "round-faced forgetful boy" to hero of Hogwarts on the big screen, is now cast for Acorn TV's Murder Before Evensong.

What do we know about the project?

Accordding to the casting announcement from TVLine.com, viewers of Acorn TV can look forward to a series "based on the bestselling novel by the Reverend Richard Coles. The first of Richard Coles' "Canon Clement Mysteries" was published in 2023 and the blurb says that Lewis' character has been "Rector of Champton...for eight years, living at the Rectory alongside his widowed mother...and his two dachshunds." A plan to improve the church's facilities leads to a situation where "Lines are drawn, long-buried secrets come dangerously close to destroying the apparent calm of the village." Of course things get worse as the patron of Champton's cousin is found murdered at the church. "As the police moves in and the bodies start piling up, Daniel is the only one who can try and keep his fractured community together...and catch a killer."

Matthew will play Daniel and we can see his leadership skills from his Dumbledore's Army days coming in handy as he hones in on the identity of the killer. TVLine says that "Nick Hicks-Beach (Midsomer Murders) will pen the series, which is expected to air late next year, with David Moore (Outlander) set to direct."

This is not the first time Lewis has taken a role in a crime drama. He was in both Ripper Street and Death in Paradise. He also played Lester Cole in Dame Agatha Christie's Verdict, joining the 2011 touring production.

The series dealing with Champton and its clergy is to span six episodes and will be featured on Acorn TV. We look forward to seeing Lewis back in action.