Brendon Daniels cast alongside Natalie Dormer in ‘White Lies’

M-NET recently announced a new eight-part drama series, White Lies, to be filmed in Cape Town starting this month.

The channel, in partnership with Quizzical Pictures and Fremantle, released a statement to announce the new film featuring local actor Brendon Daniels, pictured, and British actress Natalie Dormer, known for her roles in The Hunger Games, Game of Thrones and Picnic at Hanging Rock.

Daniels’ credits include the acclaimed film Four Corners, Skemerdans and Trackers.

White Lies will start filming on March 6.

Waldimar Pelser, director of premium channels at M-Net, said: “White Lies brings together an exceptional creative team and a stellar cast in a riveting story set in Cape Town, an iconic city with great natural beauty but also hidden undercurrents.”

The film is created by Sean Steinberg and written by award-winning scriptwriter Darrel Bristow-Bovey.

The statement describes White Lies as an “urgent exploration of race and privilege, inequality and identity centring on a strong female protagonist and diverse characters – all entangled in a riveting murder mystery”.

Dormer, who plays Edie Hanson, said: “I’m thrilled to be in Cape Town and begin this beautiful, gripping show. South Africa has so much to offer an international audience in its storytelling.

“I’m truly excited to bring Darrel’s page-turner to life with such a group of talented directors, led by John, and a superb ensemble cast.”

Set in the wealthy neighbourhood of Bishopscourt, Cape Town, investigative journalist Edie gets caught up in the ugly underbelly that lies beneath the beauty of the city, dragging her back to a turbulent past.

Following her estranged brother’s murder in his luxury home, Edie’s world plunges deeper into chaos when her brother’s teenage children become prime suspects for the crime.

As Edie investigates, she finds herself at loggerheads with detective Forty Bell (Daniels) and grapples with the crumbling local police force, a corrupt political system, and the secretive world of extreme Cape wealth.