The gripping crime thriller starring Brendan Gleeson has three seasons on Netflix and is adapted from a Stephen King trilogy
Mr. Mercedes: Brendan Gleeson stars in trailer
Mr Mercedes has made its debut on Netflix, and viewers are flocking to the captivating crime thriller series, following binge-watches of ITV’s Des featuring David Tennant, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, and most recently, The Beast in Me. Mr Mercedes originally premiered on the Audience network back in 2017, reports the Mirror.
The programme is a screen adaptation of renowned horror writer Stephen King’s popular detective novel trilogy: Mr. Mercedes (2014), Finders Keepers (2015), and End of Watch (2016). The series is the brainchild of seasoned American TV writer and producer David E. Kelley, who also masterminded Big Little Lies, Ally McBeal, Goliath, and Chicago Hope.
Mr Mercedes showcases a stellar cast including Irish acting heavyweight Brendan Gleeson, Harry Treadaway from The Crown, Holland Taylor of The Practice, Justine Lupe from Succession, Jharrel Jerome known for When They See Us, and Breeda Wool from UnREAL. Mr Mercedes aired for three seasons before concluding in 2019, but with its arrival on Netflix, it’s likely to gain a fresh surge of popularity among new audiences. The series has already sparked curiosity among viewers about whether the show could be based on real events and the storyline of the drama. Here’s what you need to know.
Brendan Gleeson and Harry Treadaway in Mr Mercedes (Image: PEACOCK)READ MORE: ‘Compelling’ BBC crime drama hailed ‘one of the best’ streaming on NetflixREAD MORE: Inside Netflix true crime documentary series Missing: Dead or Alive as fans question if it’s real
Is Mr Mercedes based on a true story?
No, Mr Mercedes isn’t based on a true story, but it does draw inspiration from real-life events. The acclaimed author of The Shining and Misery, Stephen King, confessed that a news report served as the catalyst for his detective novels. The report detailed an incident where an individual drove their car into a queue of job applicants at a McDonald’s during the fast food chain’s National Day of Hiring event.
King explained to UMass Lowell in 2012 how this news piece sparked his creative process: “I thought to myself, ‘I want to write about this.’ I didn’t know why I wanted to write about it, or what I wanted to write about it. I just knew that I wanted to write about it.”
Mr Mercedes begins with a similar incident, where a person drives a car into a crowd. However, unlike the real-life event, the driver in the novel is intent on causing maximum harm in a chilling, premeditated attack. The narrative developed from a short story into a full-length novel as King delved deeper into the violent acts committed by his disturbed fictional character. After the initial vehicular assault, the serial killer retreats into hiding, leaving the case unsolved.
Mr Mercedes is adapted from Stephen King’s novel trilogy (Image: PEACOCK)
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What is Mr Mercedes about?
Mr Mercedes centres on Gleeson’s retired detective Bill Hodges, who remains tormented by an unsolved case involving a perpetrator who killed 16 individuals by ploughing a stolen Mercedes-Benz into crowds at a job fair. At the same time, Hodges finds himself facing a fresh psychopath in Brady Hartsfield (portrayed by Harry Treadaway), who initiates his own perilous schemes that endanger innocent lives.
Hartsfield is also determined to achieve infamy through his criminal acts, pushing Hodges into perilous situations and ethically questionable territory whilst pursuing the serial murderer. The murderer and Hodges become locked in a lethal digital battle of wits as the detective frantically attempts to prevent another attack as the tension rises.
Mr Mercedes has garnered impressive acclaim on IMDb from numerous viewers who have championed the programme. One reviewer labelled it an “excellent show” in their 9/10 star assessment: “As serial-killer procedurals go, this is one of the finest I’ve seen, with strong writing, a talented cast, confident director, and master storyteller Stephen King pulling the strings.”
Another viewer granted Mr Mercedes a perfect 10/10 rating, declaring it “Gleeson at his best”. The reviewer elaborated: “After reading up on this, my curiosity was spiked when I learned that Stephen King had wrote the character of Bill Hodges based on Brendan Gleeson. Growing up, Stephen King was my Author of choice and being Irish I have always rated Brendan Gleeson as one of our best actors.”
A third viewer hailed the programme as an “incredible series” in their glowing assessment. The user went on to say: “What the heck are people watching this show is as good as they come, the acting, story, everything TOP notch! ! The whole cast is flawless the story incredible and to those who said only watch season 1 you are dead wrong. All 3 seasons are incredible and it all ends perfect.” They finished by declaring: “1 of the best series ever.”
Mr Mercedes is streaming on Netflix UK and Ireland now
