I didn’t want to play a cop again... until I was chosen for Rebus
Richard Rankin can’t wait for fans of capital copper to dive into the criminal underworld in reboot
OUTLANDER star Richard Rankin admits he had no intention of playing a cop again until the iconic role of DS John Rebus came along.
The 41-year-old, who was a detective in BBC crime dramas Silent Witness and Thirteen, said it is a “privilege” to be chosen for the part previously filled by John Hannah and Ken Stott.
The much-anticipated reboot of Rebus, based on Sir Ian Rankin’s best-selling novels of the same name, starts next week and Richard assured fans they won’t be disappointed.
Richard, who shot to fame playing Roger Mackenzie in Outlander, said: “I have played cops a few times in one form or another. I thought I had sufficiently explored this archetype... and then Rebus came along.
“I made an exception because Rebus is such an iconic character in Scottish literature and television. It already has such a huge following. That aside, it was within the first 10 pages of episode one that had me absolutely hooked.
“I could tell writer and executive producer Gregory Burke was doing something new and exciting with this.
“It felt real, it felt dark, and it felt charged.”
The Burnistoun star, who was born in Rutherglen, added: “I instantly knew Rebus was not going to be the same as other detective dramas. You would imagine a procedural cop show. It’s a character drama.
“I knew it was going to be different because we had Greg writing it, Niall MacCormick directing it, and an incredible director of photography in Julio Biccari. That combination and chemistry alone is going to guarantee something special.
“The style and the aesthetic of how Niall wanted it shot were all brilliant. Dark, cinematic, gritty.
“Additionally, Greg and I shared a passion for it to be as authentic as possible to the place. We wanted these characters to be from a very real Edinburgh and a very real Fife.”
The six-parter, which hits our screens on May 17, follows Rebus as he’s drawn into a violent criminal conflict that turns personal when his brother Michael, a former soldier, crosses the line into criminality.
The DS finds himself torn between protecting his sibling and enforcing the law to bring Michael, played by The Ipcress File’s Brian Ferguson, to justice.
The series, which also stars Lucie Shorthouse as Rebus’s sidekick DC Siobhan Clarke, sees Richard playing a younger, more buff version of the DS.
Richard, who moved to Glasgow’s King’s Park at the age of 10, said he is not surprised about the hype surrounding the series and is honoured to be bringing the character to life.
The former Stonelaw High School pupil said: “Ian Rankin’s books have got such an enormous fan base. Whenever the series comes up, people are always very excited about the prospect of seeing one of their most beloved detectives come back to the screen.”
Richard, who starred opposite Jodie Comer in Thirteen, added: “What is particularly strong about this adaptation is Ian Rankin said to Greg Burke, ‘Take Rebus and do what you want with it’. That’s already incredibly intriguing. Exciting even.
“Great source material amplified by Greg’s almost uncensored and very honest approach reboots the character in a way that is thrilling for TV.
“Everything in Greg’s writing has a beating heart. Every character has a voice. A real purpose. So much so, that each actor took immense pride and ownership in their roles.”
Richard admits he did a lot of preparation for the role, especially when it came to getting Rebus’s Fife accent just right. He said: “The accent and the dialect were important to get right. So vocal coaching was a regular thing.
“There were significant things that stood out for me. Even though it might not be written in our script, he was successful in his SAS selection. He’s a military man. I started with the question, ‘How does this inform the character?’”
Richard added: “In this series, things are beginning to take their toll on him. It’s not just the job, it’s life for Rebus. Greg explains this well, he uses the Scottish word ‘thrawn’ to describe someone who makes life as difficult as possible for themselves. A martyr to his own cause. Frequently faced with easier choices, Rebus will take the difficult path.
Author Rankin has given Richard a big thumbs up and believes he is just the right person to bring his brooding detective to life.
He said: “Richard’s terrific. You can’t take your eyes off him. He’s incredibly charismatic on screen. You’re gripped by him. Rebus is attractive to women and attractive to men – you get all of that with Richard. Men are going to love watching him and women are going to love watching him. He just throws himself into it.”
⬤ Rebus will be available on BBC iPlayer next Friday, May 17, and airs on BBC1 next Saturday at 9.25pm.
It was within the first 10 pages of episode one that I was hooked. richard rankin on new rebus show