Kit Harington is set to star in Empire of Dirt (w/t), a ‘British Western’ set in the Lake District.

The eight-part series centres on City hotshot Jake Galloway who returns to the family home in the Lake District for a family wedding only to find himself embroiled in a deadly underworld – a multi-million pound drugs rackets run from a remote corner of the family’s farmland.

Daniel West, whose credits include Top Bo and Gunpowder has written the series; West runs Thriker Films, that will co-produce alongside New Pictures.

Willow Grylls, co-Founder and CEO, New Pictures said: “Empire of Dirt will be thrilling, dangerous and fun, but always with a searing emotional core. It plays on our darkest flaws – jealousy, ambition, and the broken children who are dragged along in the wake of a vindictive and tyrannical parent. We are thrilled to be partnering with the incredible talents of Kit and Daniel on such an exciting project.”

West and Harington added: “Empire of Dirt is a very British Western, set against the Lake District’s stunning visual backdrop. The Galloways are a family fighting to survive, wrestling with their identity, trauma and the burden of inheritance, as ancient traditions collide with the mores of modern Britain.

“We couldn’t be more excited to work with Willow and the team at New Pictures to bring this propulsive contemporary thriller to the screen.”

Kit Harington image credit: Matthew Brooks.