What is the McMafia? A new series coming to AMC starring James Norton

I woke up thinking about Donald Trump’s request that his adult children have total top-secret security clearance. I need some really good news to wipe away the dread I’m feeling deep in my bones. James Norton to the rescue.

Norton, one of my favorite Brits—I admit, I have a lot of faves—is starring in a BBC/AMC co-production of McMafia which will be coming to our television screens. The AMC series is inspired by Misha Glenny’s best selling nonfiction book. 

“James Norton is Alex Godman the English-raised son of Russian exiles with a mafia history, who has spent his life trying to escape the shadow of that criminal past, building his own legitimate business and forging a life with his girlfriend Rebecca. But when his family’s past murderously returns to threaten them, Alex is drawn into the criminal world and forced to confront his values to protect those he loves.’’

Set in the world of international organized crime, the series is written by Hossein Amini (Drive) and all eight episodes will be directed by James Watkins (The Woman in Black). 

“McMafia charts Alex’s journey through a terrifying labyrinth of international criminals, money launderers, corrupt politicians and ruthless intelligence agencies. He soon finds himself embroiled in an underworld that stretches from London to Moscow, Dubai to Mumbai, Africa to the Americas, a battleground where Mexican cocaine cartels compete with Pakistani drug lords, Balkan smugglers and the Russian Mafia itself. What starts out as a story of survival and revenge becomes an epic tale of a man’s struggle against the lures of corruption in the modern world and in himself.’’

Production has begun in London so Brit friends, keep your eyes out for James and the rest of the cast.

The cast via Deadline—

David Strathairn (The Bourne Ultimatum) as Semiyon Kleiman, a well-connected Israeli businessman with a twinkle in his eye that betrays deeper secrets. 

Juliet Rylance (The Knick) portrays Rebecca Harper, Alex’s strong-willed and morally upright British girlfriend.

Aleksey Serebryakov (The Method) will play Dimitri, Alex’s father and the exiled head of the Russian mafia. 

Maria Shukshina (Yolki 3) has been cast as Oksana, Alex’s socialite mother, and Faye Marsay (Game of Thrones) rounds out the cast in the role of Katya, Alex’s sister.

“Misha Glenny’s book reminds us that underneath the headlines of today what we used to think of as organized crime is something completely different. It’s a global operation, with tentacles in every corner of our world. The creative team behind McMafia has brilliantly used the essence of this source material to write a compelling and relevant piece of television.”

The writing team, led by Amini and Watkins, includes David Farr (The Night Manager), Peter Harness (Doctor Who), and Laurence Coriat (Wonderland).

The only remaining question remains WHEN? The president-elect takes office on January 20th and I have a feeling I’m going to need some big league distraction to save my sanity.