Nicola Coughlan’s Next Big Role Just Got Deliciously Dark in Netflix’s New Roald Dahl Series

Bridgerton fans, brace yourselves — Nicola Coughlan is trading ballrooms for a much creepier setting. Netflix has officially started filming its new adaptation of Roald Dahl’s twisted short story collection, and the first set photos are giving major “something’s not right here” energy.

What We Know So Far

Netflix quietly began production in the UK on its adaptation of Tales of the Unexpected, Roald Dahl’s famous collection of dark, twist-ending short stories. This is part of the streamer’s much larger Dahl universe, built since it acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company back in 2021 — the same author behind classics like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (you can read more about Roald Dahl’s literary legacy on Wikipedia).

Set photos confirm two major names attached to the project: Bridgerton and Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan, and Then Barbara Met Alan actor Arthur Hughes. Coughlan was spotted sporting a fake baby bump in a tense scene involving a police dog — a strong hint she’s playing Mary Maloney from the iconic story Lamb to the Slaughter.

Nicola Coughlan: Key Details

Why This Adaptation Matters

Tales of the Unexpected isn’t new territory — the original ITV series ran for nine seasons between 1979 and 1988 and became a cult classic for its eerie opening titles and shocking twists. Netflix reviving it taps into serious nostalgia while introducing Dahl’s darker, adult-oriented work to a fresh streaming audience, a smart move as prestige literary adaptations continue to dominate release calendars — something we regularly break down over at Technosports in our entertainment and streaming roundups.

Whether Netflix keeps the anthology format or serializes the stories remains unconfirmed, but with cameras already rolling, more details should surface soon.

FAQs