Matthew Lewis Set to Star in Upcoming Murder Mystery Series “Murder Before Evensong”

Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films, is set to star in an upcoming Channel 5 and Acorn TV murder mystery series.

Murder Before Evensong is based on a book of the same name by British TV personality and radio presenter Reverend Richard Coles. The book is the first in a series of murder mystery novels, the third of which was released earlier this year, with more expected to follow. The book follows Canon Daniel Clement, the rector of a small town called Champton, as he fights to install lavatories in the church. Everything becomes much harder for him when a murder victim is found dead behind the church.

The show was first announced in November 2024, although Matthew is the first cast member to be officially revealed. Matthew shared his sentiment about the casting:

I’m beyond thrilled to be throwing on the old dog collar and diving into the world of Champton so charmingly created by Rev. Richard Coles. I’ve been an admirer of his work for some time and love the characters and stories he’s written. It’s an honour to work with this creative team and have the opportunity to bring the character of Canon Clement to life for fans of the book and new viewers alike.

Channel 5 has already claimed UK rights to the show, while Acorn has both US rights and the rights to further international sales. Shooting is set to begin in the West Midlands of the UK in 2025, with the show expected to launch later in the year. It is unclear whether the other books in the series will be included in the show or whether future seasons have been optioned.

This project is the second of Matthew’s to be announced this year. Over the summer, he was involved in filming for Touché, an indie comedy-drama film set in the world of competitive fencing. We’re still waiting for further details about the film, including a release date and distribution locations.

Will you be tuning in to see Matthew as Canon Clement?