Disney+ to premiere UK drama on the tragic shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes
On 30th April 2025, Disney+ will release a new UK original drama series titled Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes. This four-part series, set to stream exclusively in the UK and Ireland, examines the tragic 2005 shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, a Brazilian electrician, by London police officers who mistakenly identified him as a terrorist. The drama unfolds amidst the backdrop of heightened security following the 7th July London bombings, capturing a period of intense national tension and the subsequent quest for justice by de Menezes’ family.
The series is penned and executive produced by Jeff Pope, known for his work on Philomena and Stan and Ollie, and features a cast including Edison Alcaide in his debut role as Jean Charles de Menezes. The ensemble also includes notable actors such as Russell Tovey, Max Beesley, Emily Mortimer and others, portraying various figures involved in the events and the investigation that followed.
Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes aims to explore the impact of memory and perception on the establishment of factual truth, particularly in high-stakes situations. It provides a narrative constructed from multiple perspectives, including law enforcement officers, de Menezes’s family, and media representatives, to present a comprehensive picture of the circumstances and the emotional landscape following the incident.
Set against the backdrop of a London still reeling from the 7th July attacks, the series also addresses the failed terrorist plots that followed, which intensified the police’s frantic efforts to prevent further carnage, inadvertently leading to the fatal error. This complex web of events provides a basis for a detailed exploration of error, grief and the quest for accountability.
The production is a collaboration between Etta Pictures and KDJ Productions, with Jeff Pope’s production label being a part of ITV Studios. The series has also involved consultations with Jean Charles de Menezes’s family to ensure a respectful and accurate representation of their story.
All episodes of the series will be available for streaming on Disney+ starting 30th April, offering audiences an opportunity to fully engage with this examination of a real-life tragedy that continues to resonate in discussions about security, human rights and policing. The series not only revisits a painful chapter in recent British history but also encourages viewers to reflect on the broader implications of such incidents in today’s world.
The editorial unit
Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes is released on Disney+ on 30th April 2025.
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