Olivia Colman's new drama Landscapers is a disturbing and addictive retelling of the 1998 Mansfield murders

Olivia Colman's new drama Landscapers promises to be a 'darkly comic' retelling of the gruesome 1998 Mansfield ‘garden bodies’ murders. 

Landscapers tells the story of Susan Edwards, who along with her husband Christopher, murders her parents, William and Patricia Wycherley, and buries them in the garden. The Crown's Olivia Colman, who just recently missed out on a SAG Award to costar Gillian Anderson, will be playing the role of Susan. She will be joined by actor David Thewlis, who played Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter movies, as Christopher Edwards.

Filming in Nottingham and Mansfield has already started, with Nottinghamshire Live reporting that film crews have been spotted at various locations around the county.

What were the Mansfield Murders? 

The Mansfield murders perplexed both the police force and the public. Susan and Christopher Edwards, a seemingly mild-mannered couple, murdered Susan's parents in the May Bank Holiday of 1998.

They buried the bodies in the garden and then spend 15 years looting their bank accounts to spend on Hollywood memorabilia, particularly autographs of movie star Gary Cooper. Their crime went undetected, until 16 years later when the couple finally issued a confession to the police via email. Susan is currently serving 25 years behind bars for killing her reclusive parents and burying them in their Blenheim Close garden.

“They didn’t lead a particularly lavish lifestyle,” DCI Griffin said of the couple, as reported by the BBC. 

"It would seem that the vast majority of their money was spent on memorabilia, on authenticated autographed items on people that they admired.

“It’s staggering to think that’s what they spent their money on. But that’s what they did.”

What else do we know about Landscapers? 

The official press release for Landscapers promises that 'this blackly comic, narratively playful true-crime drama is based on extensive research, hours of interviews and direct access to the accused, who have always protested their innocence of murder.

'[As such], this is the story of a unique murder case involving four lives lived on the margins of society, that turns into an exhilarating and darkly funny exploration of love and fantasy: its power and its peril.'

Mr Thewlis said of his role in the drama, "This is, without doubt, the very finest project I have worked on for many years.

"Everything about Landscapers is magical, there is nothing like it and I’m impatient to get to work so that its brilliance can be shared with the rest of the world."

Landscaper's mini series will comprise of just four episodes and is being produced by Sky Atlantic and Now TV. 

We're not sure on a release date just yet, but will be sure to keep you posted!  

We're excited!