Dominic Cooper has built a career on playing characters who ooze charisma—from Howard Stark in the Marvel movies to the foul-mouthed preacher Jesse Custer in AMC's Preacher. But in his next project, that charm becomes a dangerous weapon. The actor is set to headline Who the Hell Is Hamish, a new Paramount+ miniseries that turns his signature magnetism into something far more sinister.
The show is adapted from the hit 2019 Australian podcast of the same name, which explored the real-life exploits of Hamish McLaren, a globe-trotting con artist who swindled his way across continents. In the series, Cooper plays the title character, a cultured and irresistible figure who sweeps Bec (Claire van der Boom) off her feet. Bec is a single mother with a substantial trust fund, and Hamish seems like the perfect partner—until she starts noticing cracks in his story. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a disturbing pattern of deception that spans years and borders.
The six-episode drama has just wrapped production in Queensland, Australia, and is slated to premiere on Paramount+ globally later this year. The streaming service teased the project with a first-look image of Cooper as Hamish, sporting a blonde dye job and a pensive expression that hints at the layers beneath the surface.
Behind the camera, the series boasts some serious talent. Adam Zwar, who created the original Australian version of Wilfred, wrote and created the show. Jeffrey Walker, known for his work on Apple Cider Vinegar and The Artful Dodger, directs. Producer Tracey Robertson, CEO of Hoodlum Entertainment, expressed her excitement about the project finally coming to life after six years in development. She praised Zwar's scripts as "razor-sharp, full of wit, tension, and deep compassion for the people at the heart of this story," and credited Walker for bringing them to the screen with "confidence and craft that is genuinely world-class."
Cooper's casting is a smart move for a story about a con artist. His natural charm makes it easy to see why people would fall for Hamish's lies. The actor has a knack for playing characters who are simultaneously likable and morally ambiguous, a skill that will serve him well in this role. It's a far cry from his recent work in crime thrillers, but it's a perfect fit for a story about deception and trust.
The supporting cast is stacked with Australian talent, including Simone Kessell (Yellowjackets), William McKenna (Good Cop/Bad Cop), Kate Jenkinson (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters), Miah Madden (My Brilliant Career), Fraser Anderson (Black Snow), Yasmin Kassim (Anaconda), Doris Younane (Last King of the Cross), Maria Angelico (Strife), Marta Dusseldorp (Bay of Fires), John Howard (Mad Max: Fury Road), Andrea Moor (Deadloch), Joel Jackson (Play Dead), Remy Hii (Spider-Man: Far From Home), Damien Garvey (Nautilus), Jack LaTorre (Nine Perfect Strangers), and newcomer Harvey Bowen.
With its blend of true-crime intrigue and a charismatic lead, Who the Hell Is Hamish is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated streaming releases of the year. The story of a con man who preyed on the vulnerable is both chilling and fascinating, and Cooper seems poised to deliver a performance that will keep viewers guessing until the very end. For fans of crime dramas and psychological thrillers, this is one to watch.
As the premiere date approaches, expect more details to emerge about this gripping series. In the meantime, you can catch Cooper in his other recent projects, or revisit the podcast that started it all. One thing's for sure: after this, you'll never look at a charming stranger the same way again.
