Game of Thrones alumni Natalie Dormer set to star in a new thriller series

In Celyn Jones's new six-part thriller Minotaur, Natalie Dormer, who is forever etched in our minds as the sly Margaery Tyrell of Game of Thrones, is trading Westeros for a maze in the upcoming series. She is going to star opposite Assaad Bouab (Call My Agent) in the series entangled in a web of criminality, addiction, and danger. And if the early teasers are any sign, this noir drama is here to drag us into its shadows.

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A killer, a mother, and a myth

At the heart of Minotaur is Luc (Bouab), a cold-blooded killer fleeing Paris’s underworld and seeking refuge in rural North Wales. During his time there, he meets Angel (Dormer), a single mother battling addiction while raising her son alone. However, as their bond grows stronger, barriers start to shut in, making them face not just one other but also the demons from their pasts.

Celyn Jones, who writes and directs the series, describes Minotaur as a Welsh/French noir thriller with international appeal. It’s a story about shadows, both the ones we run from and the ones we carry within us. The title itself hints at a psychological maze, where danger might come not from what’s outside but from what’s inside.

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Dormer’s evolution from queen to survivor

Dormer is famous for playing Margaery Tyrell in Game of Thrones, a woman who navigated Westeros with deception and cunning. In Minotaur, she trades royalty for emotional depth. Early reports suggest her character, Angel, may be fighting for her life. Dormer has the potential to deliver a powerful performance combining vulnerability and strength.

Angel, in contrast to Margaery, appears to be wrapped in shadows, fighting not only exterior but also internal demons. Dormer may undergo a transition here, going from power player to underdog, and if she gives it her all, it may lead to her most compelling work yet.

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Into the labyrinth: From development to reality

Years of planning and preparation have finally paid off. The Welsh government first backed the idea for Minotaur in 2016, so it has been under development for a while. Jones and his production company, Mad As Birds, described it as a dark exploration of fear and redemption. The noir drama is finally about to go into production.

With Dormer's involvement, the production gains new gravitas thanks to her star power and a plot that is based on psychological complexities and genuine emotion. The cultural and visual contrasts promised by the show's Welsh and French origins reflect the protagonists' broken paths.

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Dormer’s deliberate choices: Building a career of depth

Natalie Dormer has a history of strategic casting decisions, gravitating for parts that probe the human psyche and dismantle preconceptions. Dormer has persistently sought out roles that challenge typecasting. She continues on this path with her decision to step into Minotaur, establishing herself as an actress captivated by themes that delve into the darker side of human nature. Dormer delves into emotionally raw performances instead of staying on familiar ground, demonstrating once again that her career is defined by intentionality, not accident.

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Behind the camera, deeper into the maze

Jones has been weaving a web of tension and mystery around Minotaur. With Charles Sturridge (Marcella) co-directing and production handled by Mad As Birds (The Almond and the Seahorse), Minotaur already feels like a visual puzzle waiting to be solved. Filming is set to begin in Paris and Wales, promising moody backdrops and atmospheric grit.

The series' style and depth are ensured by executive producers Nicola Pearcey (Picnik Entertainment) and Fields Park Productions, who lend weight to the production. Sales have already begun with Sphere Abacus, who is marketing it as a return series, which could mean that the labyrinth is deeper than we think.

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Dormer and Bouab: a dangerous duo?

Writer and director Jones has called Dormer a "brilliant, intelligent firebrand" and teased the chemistry between her and Bouab as something with "iconic" potential. Dormer, known for playing layered, morally ambiguous women, and Bouab, who’s built a career blending charm with intensity, seem like the perfect storm for a thriller dripping comebacks, seductions, and betrayals.

The series promises simmering and exploding tension, with Angel (Dormer) managing her own addiction and grief and Luc (Bouab) fleeing from monsters that just won't die. Minotaur has the potential to become the next dark drama obsession if it even partially lives up to the mystery it promises.

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Who or what could be lurking in the maze?

The Minotaur was more than a monster in a labyrinth; it was also a story of fear, sacrifice, and survival. Although these ideas have not been directly linked to the tale by the show's creators, Minotaur seems ready to draw inspiration from mythology and update them into something disturbing and contemporary.

Are Angel and Luc victims of their own choices, or are they prisoners in a labyrinth built by others? These questions remain speculative for now, but the setup hints at a narrative rich in psychological tension and moral ambiguity. And, most importantly, Can they escape? Or are they doomed to become monsters themselves?

Minotaur begins production this year, and if it’s half as dark as it sounds, we might want to keep a string handy to find our way back out. Or maybe we won’t want to leave at all.