Rebus returns to TV screens in new ‘long form’ episodes

Scottish detective Rebus is to make a return to television screens after a 10-year absence, it has been announced.

Ian Rankin, the author of the bestselling series, has struck a deal with a production company for the rights to his novels.

The Edinburgh-based writer has said he wants to see Ken Stott return as the detective in an extended Scandinavian-style series to rival Broadchurch.

The new series will be made by London-based production firm Eleventh Hour Films, who are behind BBC’s New Blood and ITV’s Foyle’s War.

It will be penned by Scots writer Gregory Burke, whose credits include the film ’71 and the award-winning play Black Watch.

Rankin, 57, said: “I’m so thrilled and honoured that Gregory Burke is bringing his outstanding storytelling talent to Rebus.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s the perfect match, allowing the character of John Rebus to emerge in all his complex, three-dimensional glory.”

Burke said: “As someone who has grown up and lives in south-east Scotland, Ian Rankin’s best-selling books provide the perfect material to make a thrilling series about crime in the modern world.”

An earlier Rebus series starred John Hannah and later Ken Stott and aired on ITV between 2000 and 2007. It has not been announced what channel will broadcast the new shows.

Rankin took back the rights to the Rebus character because he was unhappy with ITV boiling his books down into short episodes.

The writer said he had insisted the new series would be “long form” with novels split into a number of episodes.