In Game of Thrones‘ brutal continent of Westeros, where vileness and cruelty were never in short supply, countless characters endured unimaginable suffering. However, no one was subjected to debilitating torture quite like Theon Greyjoy. Captured by the sadistic Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon), Theon was tormented and broken to the point of losing his identity. His arc remains one of the most harrowing on the show, and one of the most memorable, thanks in no small part to Alfie Allen, who embodied the character with haunting precision, earning an Emmy nomination. Now, for his next role, the English actor will play the tormentor in an upcoming Paramount+ thriller that promises to flip the dynamic he once portrayed so painfully well.
According to Variety, Allen has been cast to play the villain in a new original UK thriller series, Baby Doll (working title), that has just been commissioned by Paramount+. The 6-part series is an adaptation of a novel by Hollie Overton and is described as a “gripping exploration of trauma, resilience, sisterhood, and the high cost of reclaiming one’s life.” The story centers on twin sisters Lily and Abby, whose lives are shattered when Lily is abducted from their quiet rural English town by beloved local teacher, Rick Hansen (Allen). The synopsis continues: “After years of abuse in captivity, Lily escapes, only to discover that freedom brings its own challenges. The world she longed to return to has moved on without her. As Abby, Lily, and their mother Eve struggle to rebuild their family, they must confront the lasting damage and the terrifying reality that Rick is still out there, determined to control the narrative and evade justice.”
The Team Behind ‘Baby Doll’
The series will also star Jill Halfpenny (The Feud) as the girls’ mother Eve, while the twins Lilly and Abby will be portrayed by real sisters, Tallulah Evans (The Forsyte Saga) and Delphi Evans, respectively. Other cast members include Vikash Bhai (Limbo), Niamh Walsh (Jamestown), Levi Brown (Invasion), Victoria Ekanoye, (The Royals), Holly Atkins (Mobland), and Kiran Krishnakumar (What It Feels Like for a Girl).
Baby Doll is a production of Clapperboard Studios, marking the Brit production banner’s first global collaboration with Paramount+. Mike Benson and Suzi McIntosh serve as executive producers. The story is adapted for the screen by David Turpin, Suzanne Cowie, and Nessah Muthy, best known for their work on the critically acclaimed thriller series, The Ex-Wife, which has been a breakout hit for Paramount+. The show will be directed by Laura Way and Bindu de Stoppani. McIntosh has teased the show as a “dark psychological storytelling full of twists and turns,” granted to “keep us on the edge of our seats throughout.”
Baby Doll is currently in production, and will stream exclusively on Paramount+. No release date has been set yet, but stay tuned for updates. Allen appears to be favoring villainous roles of late, as he recently starred as the titular perpetrator of the Oklahoma City bombing in McVeigh (2025), which is now available to watch on digital platforms.
via Collider