Hayley Anderson

Sadie Sink says she does not know whether Kit Connor has auditioned to play Cyclops in Marvel’s upcoming X-Men reboot, noting that she learns casting information from director Jake Schreier amid widespread online rumors. Sink is confirmed to reprise her role as Jean Grey after Spider-Man: Brand New Day, while Samara Weaving is set to play Emma Frost. James Marsden is also expected to return as Cyclops in Avengers: Doomsday.

A new modern Scottish Highlands drama titled Laird has been confirmed by Paramount Plus, starring Kenneth Branagh as a landowner defending his ancestral estate from a powerful American billionaire. Created by John-Henry Butterworth, Georgia Lee, and Jezz Butterworth, with Joe Wright directing the pilot, the series is separate from Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone universe. Paramount Television Studios describes it as a gripping family saga exploring the lengths a family will go to protect its legacy. Laird is set to stream on Paramount Plus, offering a new option for fans of Outlander.

A new ITV crime thriller, The Dark, follows Detective Monica Kennedy’s pursuit of a serial killer in the Scottish Highlands and features Helen Baxendale in a prominent role. Known for playing Emily in Friends, Baxendale portrays Bethany Morgan, a distressed mother linked to the investigation. The six‑part series airs Sundays and Mondays on ITV and ITVX.

Filming for the ITV thriller The Dark took place in Greenock, Inverclyde, and rural areas around Glasgow, which served as stand-ins for the Scottish Highlands. Cast members Laura Donnelly and Mark Rowley were seen shooting across several local sites, including James Watt College and multiple streets and schools in Greenock. Writer Matt Hartley highlighted Scotland’s atmosphere as integral to the story, while director Gilles Bannier noted the unexpectedly sunny weather that challenged their vision for darker, mist-filled scenes. The series premieres on July 12 at 9pm on ITV.

ITV is set to launch The Dark, a six‑episode Scottish crime thriller based on GR Halliday’s novel From the Shadows, beginning July 12 with episodes airing Sundays and Mondays and all installments available on ITVX from launch. The series follows Detective Monica Kennedy, played by Laura Donnelly, as she investigates a murder that uncovers fears of a serial killer within a rural community. The cast includes Helen Baxendale, Mark Rowley and Emun Elliott, with writer Matt Hartley emphasizing the show’s place in ITV’s detective-drama tradition and expressing enthusiasm for bringing the story to screen.