Nearly a year after production started on 6 March 2023 in Cape Town, the first-look still images of the new M-Net drama White Lies, starring award-winning actress Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones, The Hunger Games, Picnic at Hanging Rock) and Brendon Daniels (Four Corners, Skemerdans, Trackers) have been released.

Journalist Edie Hansen (Dormer) gets caught up in the Cape’s ugly underworld after her brother is murdered in the wealthy neighbourhood of Bishopscourt in Cape Town’s southern suburbs. Dragged back into her tumultuous childhood, Edie’s investigation soon puts her at loggerheads with veteran detective Forty Bell (Daniels) and forces her to grapple with the crumbling local police force, a corrupt political system, and the secretive world of extreme wealth.

Natalie Dormer and Brendon Daniels to star in M-Net’s new crime thriller White Lies

White Lies is an international co-production between M-Net, International Emmy-nominated Quizzical Pictures, and Fremantle – the latter will also distribute the series internationally. “There’s huge anticipation for White Lies – and viewers’ patience will be rewarded from the first seconds of the first episode,” says Waldimar Pelser, Channel Director: Premium Channels at M-Net. “Between a world-class local and international cast, searing storytelling, best-in-class production, and the backdrop of the best of the most beautiful city in the world, White Lies has all the ingredients for global success”.

Take a look at the first photos below.

Avi and Edie: Criminal lawyer Avi Kapilevich (Daniel Janks) understands journalist Edie Hansen (Natalie Dormer), but she keeps him at arm’s length.

Daniel and Jaime: Daniel (Daniel Schultz) and Jaime McKenzie (Morgan Santo), the children of Edie’s deceased brother Andrew.

Forty and Edie: Detective Fortune "Forty" Bell (Brendon Daniels) and Edie Hansen (Natalie Dormer) lock horns over her investigation into her brother’s shooting.

Magiet: There’s more to gangster Magiet (Lee Roodt) than meets the eye.

Pearl: Pearl (Chi Mhende) is the McKenzies’ domestic worker – and could be a key witness in the case.

Peri Zondo and Forty Bell: Constable Zondo (Athenkosi Mfamela) works alongside Forty Bell (Brendon Daniels) on the McKenzie case.

Werner Weber and the neighbours: The McKenzies’ neighbour, Werner Weber (Warrick Grier), on the scene shortly after Andrew’s shooting.

White Lies is produced by Harriet Gavshon and Nimrod Geva for Quizzical Pictures, with Dormer and screenplay writer Darel Bristow-Bovey also serving as executive producers. The series’s lead director is The Wound’s John Trengove, alongside Thati Pele (Lerato), Catharine Cooke (Reyka), and Christiaan Olwagen (Poppie Nongena, Kanarie). The series is created by Sean Steinberg with UK casting by Matt Western.

White Lies will premiere on M-Net (DStv Channel 101) and will be available on DStv Stream as well as DStv Catch Up after broadcast. Join the conversation on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok using #WhiteLiesSA.