The creator of Baby Reindeer returns with a new drama. Richard Gadd wrote and stars in Half Man, a six-part series exploring friendship, violence, and family struggles across 30 years. The show dropped on streaming services this week for audiences worldwide.
The story follows two men, Ruben and Niall, who grew up as brothers despite not being blood related. Everything changes when Ruben arrives at Niall’s wedding, and a violent fight sends the story back to the 1980s. Viewers can now watch the first episode on BBC iPlayer and HBO Max.
Half Man Release Dates and Streaming Details for USA, UK and Global Audiences
Half Man premiered on Thursday, April 23, on HBO and HBO Max in the United States. The first episode aired at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. New episodes will come out every Thursday until May 28.
For viewers in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the show arrived on Friday, April 24, at 6:00 a.m. on BBC iPlayer. The remaining episodes will be released every Friday. The series will also air on BBC One starting Tuesday, April 28, at 10:40 p.m.
Scotland viewers can watch on BBC Scotland starting Tuesday, April 28. People in Canada, Latin America, and Europe can stream the show on HBO Max starting April 23 or April 24, depending on their location. Viewers in Australia, India, Japan, Singapore, and the UAE can watch on April 24 on their local platforms.
Here is the complete weekly release schedule for the six episodes:
- Episode 1: Released April 23 (US) / April 24 (UK)
- Episode 2: April 30 (US) / May 1 (UK)
- Episode 3: May 7 (US) / May 8 (UK)
- Episode 4: May 14 (US) / May 15 (UK)
- Episode 5: May 21 (US) / May 22 (UK)
- Episode 6: May 28 (US) / May 29 (UK)
Richard Gadd and Jamie Bell Lead the Half Man Cast
Richard Gadd plays Ruben, a tough and angry character. Gadd said playing this role scared him because it was so different from his work in Baby Reindeer. He changed his look by growing a beard, changing his hair, and building muscle to play the part.
“I just knew if people were going to buy the guy from Baby Reindeer as this hard-man epitome of masculinity, I needed to really transform.” – Richard Gadd
Jamie Bell plays Niall, the calmer and more careful brother. Bell is known for his first movie Billy Elliot and other films like Rocketman and All of Us Strangers. He will also appear in the upcoming Peaky Blinders movie.
Younger versions of the main characters appear in scenes from the 1980s. Stuart Campbell plays young Ruben, and Mitchell Robertson plays young Niall.
Other cast members include:
- Charlie de Melo as Alby
- Bilal Hasna as young Alby
- Anjli Mohindra as Ava
- Amy Manson as Mona
- Tim Downie as Daniel
What Is Half Man About? The Story Explained
Half Man looks at male friendship and how it can break apart over time. The show moves between the 1980s and the present day. Ruben and Niall become close as teenagers because their mothers are in a relationship. They live together and form a strong bond, but they deal with their own problems in different ways.
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Ruben solves his issues with fighting and anger. Niall hides his true self because he struggles with his sexuality. These secrets and feelings of shame slowly destroy their relationship. The show explores how men often hide their emotions and how that can lead to violence.
The series was filmed in Glasgow, Scotland. Gadd said he wanted to show how the city changed around the characters while they stayed stuck in their old problems.
Half Man is a co-production between BBC and HBO. It was made by Mam Tor Productions in association with Thistledown Pictures. Screen Scotland also supported the show.
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