David Tennant resumes filming as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days... after terrifying fans as real-life serial killer Dennis Nilsen
He transformed into real-life serial killer Dennis 'Des' Nilsen and gave a bone-chilling performance in true-crime drama, Des.
But David Tennant's new role as Phileas Fogg in a TV adaptation of Around the World in 80 Days, an adventure novel by Jules Verne, is a far stretch from his terrifying performance as Nilsen.
A cheerful snap showed the former Doctor Who actor, 49, filming on set in London as fearless explorer Phileas, donning an impressive top hat and period-style grey suit with a matching waistcoat.
Filming: David Tennant has resumed filming as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days, which was originally an adventure novel by Jules Verne, amid the Covid-19 crisis
He sported a thick moustache for the role and held a face mask in his hand as he kept safe amid the Covid-19 crisis while posing with a child actor and co-star.
The eight-part BBC series will see Phileas join journalist Abigail Fix, portrayed by Leonie Benesch, and French valet Jean Passepartout, played by Ibrahim Koma, for a globe-trotting adventure.
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After several weeks of shooting, filming was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic but has since resumed in Romania, and is expected to hit screens on BBC One next year.
The series also plans to travel to South Africa during an ambitious five-month filming schedule, which has seen its own set of challenges amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
Adventure: The eight-part series will see Phileas join forces with journalist Abigail Fix, portrayed by Leonie Benesch, and French valet Jean Passepartout, played by Ibrahim Koma
Simon Crawford-Collins, managing director of Slim Film and Television, told Radio Times: 'We are over the moon to be recommencing filming on Around The World in 80 Days, having gathered such an exciting and truly international cast, led by David, Ibrahim and Leonie.
'This project is such a challenging and ambitious series to put together so it has required a huge amount of support on all fronts to pull it off.
'We couldn't have achieved it without our wonderful production team, our stellar cast, our super supportive broadcasters and financiers, the inventiveness of our directors and the ingenuity of our wonderful writing team led by Ashley Pharoah.'
The cast and crew of Around The World in 80 Days will follow the latest safety guidelines and co-operate with governments in Romania and South Africa, according to Radio Times.
And the BBC series has also seen David reunite with his Des co-star Jason Watkins, who will play newspaper owner Bernard Fortescue.
The Broadchurch actor's new playful character is a far reach from his starring role as Dennis Nilsen, who went on a five-year killing spree in the UK.
Known as the 'kindly killer', Nilsen killed 15 young men from 1978 to 1983, before he was finally caught.
Appearing as Nilsen, David gave a chilling performance as the real-life serial killer in Des, with viewers noting his resemblance to Nilsen after watching Stan's show.
In an interview with Express in September, David explained his decision to take on the terrifying role.
He explained that the hard part had been trying to strike the right 'balance' between telling the story, but also acknowledging the victims.
Far stretch: The 49-year-old actor's latest venture is a far stretch from his starring role as real-life serial killer Dennis Nilsen, who went on a five-year killing spree in the UK
'We didn't want to slope into sensationalist because it would be easy to do and wouldn't serve the victims of this,' he explained.
'There's some footage of him and there's a lot that has been written about him and people who knew him.
'You take that all in and then forget about it. I suppose I spent quite a lot of time studying him and listening to his voice.'
David has been keeping busy during lockdown as he also starred in and produced Staged alongside his Good Omens co-star Michael Sheen and his wife Georgia.
The sitcom saw Michael, 51, and David navigate their 'new normal' at home alongside their increasingly exasperated families.
Chilling: Appearing as Nilsen, David gave a chilling performance as the serial killer in Stan's Des, with many viewers noting his resemblance to Nilsen after watching the show
The comedy's first series saw the actors play fictional versions of themselves, trying to rehearse for a West End production after being furloughed during lockdown.
And it was announced last month that the hit BBC lockdown comedy will return for a second series, with further details on the new series set to be announced soon.
David married his wife Georgia, 35, in 2011 after meeting on the set of Doctor Who.
The pair share children Olive, nine, Wilfred, seven, and Doris, five, and Birdie, eight months. David adopted Georgia's 18-year-old son Ty when they married.
The BBC have not yet released a premiere date for Around The World in 80 Days.
