Inspired by True Crime Sagas Like To Hunt a Killer, the Tense Cat-and-Mouse Drama Pits Two Powerhouse Leads in a Psychological Battle of Secrets, Twists, and Dangerous Obsessions – Fans Are Asking: Is This ITV’s Next Big Hit?

 ITV is gearing up for its boldest drama in years with Gone, a six-part psychological thriller that pits David Morrissey (The Walking Dead, Wolf Hall) against Eve Myles (Torchwood, Broadchurch) in a high-octane cat-and-mouse game that’s already generating watercooler buzz before its 2026 premiere. Created by emerging scribe Laura Lankester and directed by Line of Duty‘s Louise Hooper, the series draws inspiration from real-life true crime sagas like To Hunt a Killer, blending meticulous procedural detail with raw emotional warfare. As former lovers turned bitter adversaries, Morrissey’s brooding detective and Myles’ cunning suspect unravel a web of long-buried secrets and dangerous obsessions, leaving viewers questioning: who is hunting whom? With a cast including rising stars like Ambika Mod (One Day) and a soundtrack by Emmy-winner Lorne Balfe, Gone promises to be ITV’s next obsession – the kind of taut, twist-filled ride that could eclipse Vigil and The Long Shadow.

The story centers on DI Alex Carver (Morrissey), a seasoned Manchester detective haunted by a botched case that cost his partner her life, who receives an anonymous tip leading him to confront his ex-lover, journalist Lena Hart (Myles). Lena, now a podcaster chasing true crime glory, is suspected of fabricating evidence in a high-profile murder – a crime Carver once helped her cover up to protect their affair. What begins as a routine interrogation spirals into a psychological battle across rainy Salford streets and fog-shrouded Lake District hideaways, where each revelation pulls them deeper into a maze of lies, lost evidence, and lingering passion. “Gone isn’t just a thriller – it’s a dissection of how love turns to lethal,” Lankester told Radio Times. “David and Eve’s chemistry is the weapon – you can’t look away.”

Morrissey’s Carver is a masterclass in restrained fury – a man whose rumpled suits and weary eyes mask a volcano of regret, his Scouse growl delivering lines like “You didn’t just break my heart – you broke the law” with devastating precision. Myles’ Lena is his perfect foil – sharp, seductive, unapologetic – her Welsh lilt dripping with defiance as she taunts, “You think you know me? I wrote the book on you.” Their history – a torrid affair during a 2015 cold case that ended in scandal – fuels the obsession, with flashbacks revealing how Lena’s ambition once blinded Carver to her manipulations. Mod’s DS Priya Singh adds fresh tension as Carver’s ambitious protégé, torn between loyalty and doubt, while supporting turns from Lucian Msamati (Luther) as a shadowy informant and Indira Varma (Game of Thrones) as Lena’s ruthless editor round out the ensemble.

Hooper’s direction is a visual stunner – Manchester’s neon-lit canals and desolate moors lit in moody blues that mirror the characters’ fractured psyches, with cinematographer Suzie Lavelle (Killing Eve) capturing the claustrophobia of interrogation rooms where every glance is a weapon. Balfe’s score throbs with dissonant strings, building to a finale that’s “as shocking as it is inevitable,” per early screeners. The script, inspired by cases like the 2018 Sarah Everard murder and the podcasting boom, probes the ethics of true crime storytelling – when does pursuit become predation?

Critics previewing the pilot are floored. The Guardian awarded five stars: “Morrissey and Myles redefine cat-and-mouse – a thriller that claws at your conscience.” Variety called it “ITV’s sharpest export since Bodyguard.” With a £15 million budget and international sales to Netflix, Gone positions ITV as a global player.

Is this ITV’s next big hit? The head-to-head of Morrissey and Myles suggests yes – a showdown of secrets and souls that will linger long after the credits. Stream on ITVX in 2026. The hunt begins.