‘Merlin’s Bradley James Lands Lead in Netflix WWII Drama ‘The Liberator’

By Nellie Andreeva, Deadline
Published Jan. 22, 2019, 2:06 p.m. ET

Bradley James (Merlin, Damien) has been cast as the lead of The Liberator, Netflix’s four-part animated World War II drama series based on the book by Alex Kershaw, from writer Jeb Stuart (Die Hard, The Fugitive), A+E Studios, Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne’s Unique Features and School of Humans.

The Liberator is the first project produced in Trioscope, a new enhanced hybrid animation technology that combines state-of-the-art CGI with live-action performance. It allows creators to tell a visually compelling story with rich detail in a way that conveys the human emotion and drama of the serious subject matter.

Created, written and executive produced by Stuart, The Liberator, based on Kershaw’s book “The Liberator: One World War II Soldier’s 500-Day Odyssey,” tells the riveting true story of the bloodiest and most dramatic march to victory of the Second World War: the battlefield odyssey of maverick U.S. Army officer Felix Sparks (James) and his infantry unit as they fought for over 500 days to liberate Europe.

The combat drama will follow Sparks and the 157th Infantry Regiment from Oklahoma, a National Guard unit composed primarily of cowboys, Native Americans and Mexican-Americans from the invasion of Italy to the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp.

James’ Felix Sparks is a cowboy from Arizona. He is the leader of 157th Field Infantry Regiment E Company, a disparate group of westerners who went on to become one of the most decorated combat units of World War II. A man of strength, compassion and conscience, Sparks was stubborn and defiant to superiors who put themselves and their careers over their men. Over the course of over 500 days of combat, which saw Sparks rise from Second Lieutenant to Lt. Colonel—and the men under his command grow to over ten thousand—he continued to ‘lead from the front,’ sharing their sacrifices and challenges.

Grzegorz Jonkajtys developed the Trioscope technology together with School of Humans’ L.C. Crowley. Jonkajtys also will direct all four episodes.

British actor James is known for playing the titular role in Netflix’s Medici franchise, for his starring role as Arthur in the Merlin TV series, and for the title role in A&E’s Damien, a sequel to The Omen. His other TV credits include iZombie, Homeland and Bounty Hunters. He’s repped by UTA and Luber Roklin Entertainment.