Director: Niall MacCormick
Edinburgh gets a younger, rougher detective in Rebus, a 2024 crime series that reimagines Ian Rankin's iconic inspector as a rule-bending Detective Sergeant still learning how far he's willing to bend.
What is Rebus about?
Long before he became the world-weary inspector readers know from the novels, John Rebus was a young Detective Sergeant with a stubborn streak and a habit of ignoring the chain of command when it got in his way. This version drops him into a violent criminal conflict that starts as police work and turns personal fast, once Rebus realizes his brother Michael, a former soldier trying to find his footing back home, has slid into the same criminal world Rebus is meant to be dismantling. Edinburgh itself becomes a pressure chamber, forcing Rebus to choose between the badge and the brother.
Cast & crew
Richard Rankin takes on the title role, giving this younger Rebus a coiled energy distinct from earlier screen versions of the character. Brian Ferguson plays Michael with a quiet desperation that fuels the show's central conflict, while Lucie Shorthouse, Amy Manson, and Stuart Bowman fill out the detectives and criminals orbiting the case.
Context & significance
A UK-Sweden co-production released in 2024, Rebus runs about 45 minutes per episode and has earned a strong IMDb rating around 7.1, reflecting how well the prequel approach has landed with both longtime readers of the novels and newcomers to the character. Its single-genre focus on crime keeps the storytelling tight and procedural.
Where & how to watch
Rebus is available on K-Time with Persian dubbing and Persian subtitles, so the show's Edinburgh dialect and dense plotting come through clearly for Farsi-speaking audiences. Access only requires a free K-Time account, and the platform's Farsi-first design makes it easy for the diaspora to pick up a British crime series without friction.