Apple TV+ casts Colin Firth opposite Jack Lowden in Berlin Noir
Apple TV+ has added Colin Firth to the cast of its upcoming television adaptation of Philip Kerr’s Berlin Noir novels, pairing the Oscar-winning star with Jack Lowden in what promises to be a moody, character-driven detective drama. Lowden, already known to Apple audiences for his role in Slow Horses, will headline as Bernie Gunther, while Firth will play Paul Lohser, a meticulous and reticent detective with the Berlin police.
What the series will cover
The adaptation will explore Bernie Gunther’s early years, focusing on 1928 Berlin—an era of bright promise tinged with the shadows that would soon consume the city. Apple TV+ confirmed in April 2025 that it was moving forward with the project, which intends to translate Kerr’s acclaimed noir novels into a serialized, period detective thriller.
Meet the detectives: Bernie Gunther and Paul Lohser
- Jack Lowden as Bernie Gunther: The central figure of Kerr’s novels, Gunther is a hard-edged private detective whose moral code and streetwise instincts carry him through a landscape of corruption and social upheaval. Lowden’s casting anchors the series in the complex, world-weary perspective that defines the character.
- Colin Firth as Paul Lohser: Firth will portray a brilliant but prickly homicide detective within the Berlin Police. Described as meticulous and socially guarded, Lohser presents a foil to Gunther both temperamentally and methodologically. The two men will form an uneasy partnership—an odd-couple pairing that becomes essential to tracking a serial killer preying on society’s most vulnerable.
That contrast—Gunther’s rough pragmatism against Lohser’s fastidious, isolated brilliance—sets the stage for a tense, character-led investigation central to the story.
Why this pairing matters
Bringing together Lowden and Firth signals Apple’s commitment to prestige, actor-led adaptations. Both performers are adept at mining emotional friction and restraint, which suits the source material’s blend of noir atmosphere and moral ambiguity. Their chemistry and opposing approaches to justice are likely to drive the series’ dramatic tension, elevating the procedural elements with strong personal stakes.
How Berlin Noir fits Apple TV+’s thriller lineup
Apple TV+ has been steadily expanding its slate of adult-oriented thrillers, and Berlin Noir looks positioned to join that roster as a period counterpart to the streamer’s contemporary offerings. Lowden’s previous Apple project, Slow Horses, has been a standout success for the platform since its 2022 debut—earning critical praise and a dedicated audience. The espionage series has leaned into character dynamics and workplace paranoia across seasons and has already been renewed through Season 7, underscoring the streamer’s appetite for serialized, character-led dramas.
Where viewers can catch Lowden next and what’s ahead
Slow Horses is currently available to stream on Apple TV+. As for Berlin Noir, Apple has not announced a production schedule, release window, or additional casting beyond the lead roles. Expect further updates as the project moves into production and more creative team details are revealed.
What to watch for
- Casting updates and supporting players who will populate 1928 Berlin
- Creative leads (showrunner, writers, directors) attached to adapt Kerr’s novels
- A production timeline and first-look images or trailers
- How faithfully the series adapts specific books from the Berlin Noir sequence and whether it will follow a single novel per season or a different structure
Apple’s Berlin Noir adaptation will be one to watch for fans of literary crime drama and period thrillers, especially given the caliber of its leads and the rich historical backdrop the novels provide. Stay tuned for more casting announcements and production details as they become available.