Peacock's 'PONIES' Ponies Up a Cast List

Not every period piece is based on a true story; it just can feel that way sometimes, especially with the rise of the biopic film in Academy voters' hearts in the last decade and TV's tendency to retell already-known stories. Sometimes, just being based in a specific historical era is enough, and the rest can be a flight of fancy. Such is the case with Peacock's latest period drama, the 1970s Cold War set spy series PONIES (the intelligence acronym meaning "Persons Of No Interest"). Produced by and starring Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke, it is one of the very few Eurocentric originals that will be debuting on the platform not involving U.K. sister company Sky.

Considering that PONIES fits very well with Sky's massive hit The Day of the Jackal (which all but flatlined in the States), one assumes that eventually, the cultural exchange will go both ways, and Peacock's series will be guaranteed a U.K. platform on Sky. However, it speaks to Peacock's belief in the series (and Clarke) that it was willing to greenlight it as long as she starred.

Until now, the only other confirmed cast member for the series was American Haley Lu Richardson, who broke out in The White Lotus Season 2 alongside Leo Woodhall. Peacock announced she would board the project to star as the other half of the spy duo with Clarke, a sign the series' lead planned to surround herself with a strong ensemble. Now, with the rest of the main roster confirmed ahead of filming, it seems that is indeed the case.