Richard Madden to Star in Medical Hostage Thriller ‘Trauma’ for Paramount+ and Prime Video

Richard Madden has been cast as the lead in “Trauma,” a thriller series that will stream on Paramount+ in most global territories and on Prime Video in the U.K. and Ireland.

Production is set to begin in October 2026, with a premiere date to come.

The series comes from Geoff Bussetil, a writer-producer whose credits include “Slow Horses,” “Scoop” and “Skins.” Bussetil created “Trauma” and will write.

Daniel Syrkin, whose work spans “Tehran” and “Mobland,” is set to direct and executive produce.

A Hospital Under Siege

Madden plays Jim Marchant, a former Royal Marines medic now working as an ER doctor, who is inside a busy London hospital when terrorists seize the building and take the Prime Minister hostage during surgery.

As Marchant fights floor by floor to save those trapped inside, the show’s logline promises, “the balance of power shifts — and the building becomes a deadly battle of strategy, nerve, and survival.”

The series is being shepherded through a co-production model arranged by Lionsgate Television and 42 Management & Production, with Lionsgate holding a minority stake in 42.

Hannah Blyth, head of content acquisition for TV at Prime Video U.K./Ireland, brought the project in for Amazon. Chrissy Skinns will produce, with 42’s Chris Kennedy co-producing. Madden executive produces alongside Bussetil and Syrkin.

Jane Wiseman, head of originals for Paramount+, framed the series as a high-tension showcase for the platform’s global slate.

‘Trauma’ is exactly the kind of bold, global and propulsive storytelling we want Paramount+ audiences to experience. Geoff Bussetil has crafted a nail-biting thriller that puts our audience inside one impossible night with a hero played by the incredibly talented Richard Madden. We can’t wait for viewers around the world to feel their pulse race alongside his.

Scott Herbst, EVP and head of scripted development for Lionsgate Television, pointed to the unusual deal structure that brought two major streamers together.

This premium global series has come together through exceptional creative collaboration and innovative dealmaking. Together with 42, we’ve assembled a best-in-class team of partners in Prime Video and Paramount+, and the result is a gripping, high-stakes series that showcases Geoff Bussetil’s distinctive vision and Richard Madden’s undeniable appeal. ‘Trauma’ demonstrates what’s possible when strong creative and distribution partners align behind ambitious, internationally resonant storytelling.

Madden’s Pivot From Spy to Surgeon

The casting marks a notable shift for Madden, who has spent much of his post-“Game of Thrones” career in espionage-adjacent territory.

He won a Golden Globe and an Emmy-nominated best drama series nod for BBC One and Netflix’s “Bodyguard,” and more recently headlined the Amazon series “Citadel” and the upcoming Netflix series “Trinity.”

With “Trauma,” he trades international intrigue for a contained, single-location siege, leaning on the combat-medic background that gives Marchant both the physical capability and the medical know-how to navigate a hospital under attack.

Madden first broke through as Robb Stark across three seasons of HBO’s “Game of Thrones.” His film work includes Marvel’s “Eternals,” the Elton John biopic “Rocketman,” Sam Mendes’ “1917” and 2015’s “Cinderella.”

He is represented by CAA, Anonymous Content and Sloane Offer.

The 2026 production start leaves “Trauma” positioned as a potential 2027 release on both platforms, though neither streamer has confirmed a target window.

Sources

• Variety