Steve Coogan takes on dramatic role in Netflix series Legends
In a disused chapel of a private school in St Albans, Steve Coogan reflects on his latest project, a departure from his usual comedic roles, as he films the Netflix thriller Legends, reports BritPanorama.
Coogan, co-founder of production company Baby Cow, describes his experience in the show, saying, “When I’m producing, I have a certain kind of leverage… so as a job, this is quite interesting. I don’t often get just hired.”
The true-crime drama, written by Neil Forsyth, is set in the early 1990s and portrays Customs and Excise officers going undercover in heroin gangs. Coogan plays Don, a hardened Customs officer dealing with the weight of personal and professional scars from his undercover experience. He praises the collaborative process, stating, “It’s an enjoyable process… I have to generate the material myself.”
Coogan’s character leads a team of untrained officers adopting fake identities to infiltrate drug syndicates, including a particularly dangerous Turkish gang in North London. His co-stars, including Tom Burke and Hayley Squires, portray officers who face imminent and life-threatening dangers. Squires, reflecting on her character’s motivation, notes the impact of the political climate on her character’s choices, saying, “She’s not a hero but [the drugs problem] hits home.”
The six-part series captures the essence of the “war on drugs” as pushed by the Thatcher and Major governments, with Coogan’s character guiding a new generation of unwitting officers. Burke’s character, based on a real-life officer, connects deeply with the material, having met the original “Guy Stanton.” Burke describes his character’s background as “very buoyant” and acknowledges the complexities faced by those operating as undercover agents.
Forsyth, whose previous works include The Gold, acknowledges the grey area in portraying the undercover agents’ dual realities. He asserts that the motivations of those who took on these roles reflect a desire to transcend their circumstances: “What the people who did these undercover jobs in real life are doing… is saying: ‘I’m not going to accept this existence.’”
Both Coogan and Squires underscore the significance of telling these stories drawn from real-life experiences. Squires feels a personal connection to her character, highlighting the relevance of the narrative in a contemporary context, particularly around drug-related challenges still present in society.
This series invites deeper reflection on the societal issues surrounding drug addiction and the roles of those who grapple with the realities of crime enforcement. Coogan indicates that responsibility lies in understanding these complex narratives rather than simplifying them into clear distinctions of good versus evil. The intention is to provoke discussions about motivations behind criminal behavior, suggesting a more nuanced perspective is essential for understanding and addressing root causes.
Legends is available for streaming on Netflix now.
