Disney+ is delving into the tragic story of Jean Charles de Menezes with a new drama, Suspect: The Shooting Of Jean Charles De Menezes. The series, which airs on Disney+, stars an impressive cast including Russell Tovey and Emily Mortimer, and revisits the events following the 7/7 bombings in London. Russell Tovey, who plays a key role as deputy assistant commissioner Brian Paddick, shared his thoughts on the project: "I was shocked that 2025 will mark 20 years since the event – it's gone incredibly quickly," he reflects. "It doesn't feel like it was that long ago, but I knew there had been a lot of misinformation at the time." The actor, who is openly gay, felt a personal connection to his character: "He's someone I've looked up to. I was happy he was someone within the community with good morals," Russell says. He also discusses his own experiences being gay in the spotlight: "I came out very early in my career and was advised along the way not to consider it, but I went against that advice. I feel a real connection to Brian. I understand what it means to be gay in the public eye and what people can write about you." Suspect aims to shed light on the misconceptions surrounding the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, taking viewers back to the chaotic days of July 2005, just after London won the bid for the 2012 Olympics. The capital was left reeling on 7 July when a chilling series of coordinated suicide bombings tore through London. The chaotic morning saw three underground trains hit by deadly explosions, whilst a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square became the target of a fourth, horrendous blast. The attacks claimed the lives of 52 innocent individuals and injured 775 others. Max Beesley, who portrays assistant commissioner Andy Hayman – the man spearheading the probe into the grim 7/7 events – recalls that day with stark clarity. Narrating his experience, he shares, "We had our first ever read-through for a show called Hotel Babylon with the BBC," adding the details of the early call time: "And they wanted a prompt 9am start and insisted that everyone arrived there for 8.30am in Marylebone. God knows what would've happened if it would've been the 9am arrival time as we would've been on the infrastructure between 8am and 9am, which could have been horrific." For Conleth Hill, aged 60, donning the role of former Met Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair evokes memories of personal proximity to tragedy – something that seemed like a recurring nightmare. "It wasn't long after September 11th. At the time, it just felt like it was constant or certainly regular enough to be concerning," Conleth asserts, delving into his own brush with terror, "I was in New York for September 11th and I was also doing a play there at the time." Tasked with portraying a figure linked to the controversy over Jean Charles de Menezes' death, Conleth approaches the challenge without bias: "I don't blame Ian Blair. I can't – I have to give him the respect to play him," he maintains. "There are statements that he makes within our drama where he's perfectly aware of making mistakes and of being culpable. There's a strange understanding that comes from why he did what he did, because his main focus was finding the four bombers." In the gripping retelling of events following the 7/7 London bombings, we're taken to the heart-wrenching aftermath when, just two weeks later on 21 July, another set of devices were ominously placed on trains and a bus. Miraculously failing to detonate, they sparked widespread panic across the capital. The tension was palpable as police, fearing another coordinated attack, scrambled to respond. The very next day, Jean Charles de Menezes, a 27 year old electrician, began his fateful journey to work. Tragically misidentified as one of the failed bombers, Jean Charles was trailed into Stockwell Underground Station. In a harrowing case of mistaken identity, he was fatally shot seven times in the head at point-blank range by officers. The repercussions of this grave error were felt worldwide. Back in Brazil, Jean Charles' homeland, the streets were filled with protestors voicing their fury. Portraying Jean Charles in this poignant drama is Brazilian actor Edison Alcaide. For Edison, immersing himself in the role was no easy task, despite being familiar with the story. Edison reflects on his connection to the character: "I feel really connected to Jean Charles," he shares. "We have so much in common. He was truly a nice guy, famed for how he cared for his family and his friends and the way he approached life. He was living in the UK because he wanted to grow as a person and experience different cultures." Actor Edison has opened up about the tremendous weight of responsibility he felt while depicting the harrowing final moments of Jean Charles on screen. "There were so many legal things that needed to be respected and they were extremely careful, thanks to all the research, to show exactly what had happened," shared Edison. "It was very difficult. It was very emotional. It was a very heavy day on set for everyone."