The CW Sets Fall Premiere Date for Sophie Turner Jewel Thief Drama 'Joan'

While it may have once been the go-to destination for buzzy teen dramas and interconnected superhero shows, The CW is working hard to change its image to something more mainstream. The network is under new management, who are clearly eager to appeal to a broader swath of viewers than the more genre-focused programming of yesteryear might have appealed to. The CW's now airing everything from unscripted reality series to live sports and embracing acquiring or jumping on board foreign productions from Canada and the U.K. 

As a result, while The CW may never be a destination for Anglophile viewers, it does mean that the network has occasionally started bringing British properties across the pond, such as the apocalypse comedy Everyone Else Burns. That trend is set to continue with Joan, a historical true crime drama starring Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones). 

The series has been officially announced as part of The CW's Fall primetime programming lineup, and while a premiere date wasn't confirmed, it will likely launch in October. The six-part drama aims to dramatize the life of Joan Hannington, a housewife who became one of the most notorious jewel thieves in England during the 1980s. 

Known as "The Godmother" among the denizens of London's criminal underworld, Hannington was an expert at check fraud, often donning disguises and changing her accent so she wouldn't be recognized while on a job. But her great love was apparently always diamonds, which she would steal from shops by swallowing whole. 

Turner plays the titular Joan, chronicling her rags-to-riches rise as she works her way into the upper echelons of London's criminal elite. The story is largely based on Hannington's shocking 2004 memoir, I Am What I Am: The True Story of Britain's Most Notorious Jewel Thief, and if the behind-the-scenes posts on social media are anything to go by, it seems that the Godmother herself was at least somewhat involved in the production.  

Here's the series' description. 

Sophie Turner stars as notorious jewel thief Joan Hannington in this exhilarating yet emotional story set against the vibrant backdrop of the 1980s — an era known for its bold fashion trends, iconic music and cultural shifts. The series opens with Joan, a fiery and uncompromising woman in her twenties who is deeply scarred and vulnerable. She is a devoted mother to her six-year-old daughter, Kelly, but is trapped in a disastrous marriage with a violent criminal named Gary. When Gary goes on the run, Joan seizes the opportunity to create a new life for herself and her daughter. Joan becomes a masterful jewel thief. She embarks on a thrilling, high-stakes journey that challenges her every limit, driven by her desire to care for her daughter and create a secure home for them both. 

Alongside Turner, the series also stars Frank Dillane (Fear the Walking Dead) as Boisie, a London antique dealer. Kirsty J. Curtis (Match Not Found) plays Nancy, Joan’s older sister and salon worker, while Gershwyn Eustache Jr. (I May Destroy You) portrays Albie, an old acquaintance of Boisie's who’s made a new life in Spain with his wife Val, played by Laura Aikman (Archie).

Joan is written by Anna Symon (The Essex Serpent) and directed by BAFTA winner Richard Laxton (Rain Dogs). The series hails from Snowed-In Productions and is executive produced by Ruth Kenley-Letts (Stonehouse), Jenny Van Der Lande (Too Close), Neil Blair (The Midwich Cuckoos) and Richard Laxton. Commissioned for ITVX by Head of Drama Polly Hill, the show is produced in association with All3Media International and The CW Network.

 Joan will air Wednesdays this Fall on The CW at 9pm ET, immediately following new episodes of Sullivan's Crossing.