Showtime Brings iTV’s ‘Coldwater’ Series to the U.S
Andrew Lincoln returns to U.S television screens
Paramount-owned Showtime network recently acquired the Scottish thriller, Coldwater, from iTV Studios in a deal with BBC Studios to bring more British dramas into the U.S. Major U.S buyers and distributors of BBC content are AMC Networks and its associated streaming services including Britbox, SundanceTV, and Acorn TV. However, Showtime is making a bold move by including the series in its recent acquisition. The 6-episode thriller series will be available on the platform in early 2026.
New Beginnings. New Nightmares
Starring Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead) as John and Indira Varma (Game of Thrones) as his wife Fiona, Coldwater centers on John who moves his family to a remote village in Scotland after experiencing a traumatic event in London. Once there, he meets his neighbor, Tommy, who he befriends as a means to solidify a fresh start, setting roots in a place he can call home. However, Fiona has suspicions about Tommy’s place in the community and his increased influence on her husband, who is both impressed and fascinated by him. As her suspicions grown, John’s friendship with Tommy leads him down a dangerous path that puts the target from an entire community on his back.
Coldwater uses its characters and storyline to allow the audience to have conversations about masculinity, trauma, deception, trust in your marriage, and the power of religion. It challenges traditional views on how a man should present himself in society as John is the opposite of a “red-blooded man.” Instead of turning away from his trauma, he embraces it and displays a vulnerability that dispels how a man should react in highly emotional situations. The series also weaves deceit beautifully through its examination of religious power through Tommy—highlighting the role religion plays in small communities and how positional authority is used to manipulate and control a population.
A Major Return to TV
As the star of The Walking Dead and The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, this is Andrew Lincoln’s first major role in television since saying goodbye to Rick Grimes. Initially, Andrew turned down the role—unsure of the show’s reception and success plus the fear of playing an unpleasant character. Ultimately, Andrew kept returning to the script, unable to escape the brilliance and unpredictability of the story. He stated in an interview with BAFTA “I was quite nervous about the role…but then I just thought there’s nothing quite like it.” He then reached out to Indira to play his wife, Fiona, in the series. Andrew and Indira have known each other since they were 17 years old, having grown up together in Bath, England. He stated working with her on Coldwater was a great opportunity and expressed his excitement to return to work in the UK with a close friend.
Be on the lookout for Coldwater on Showtime and Paramount+ with a Showtime subscription in the U.S. early 2026. Check out the trailer below.