The trailer has just been released for This Is Not a Murder Mystery, a major new Belgian television drama partly filmed in Portlaw, County Waterford. The six-part series, directed by internationally acclaimed filmmaker Hans Herbots (The Serpent, Riviera), is already attracting attention for its striking visuals and unique take on the murder mystery genre.
The production team chose Portlaw as one of its filming locations in 2024, making use of the town’s rich architectural and cultural heritage to recreate the glamour and tension of 1930s Europe. Local landmarks and scenery provided an atmospheric backdrop for several key scenes, showcasing the town on an international stage.
Created by Christophe Dirickx (Tabula Rasa, The Misfortunates) and Paul Baeten (Two Summers, Over Water), This Is Not a Murder Mystery brings together some of Europe’s most celebrated production companies.
It was produced by Panenka in co-production with VRT, RTL, Proximus, New8 and Deadpan Pictures, with the support of Screen Ireland, Screen Flanders, Screen Brussels, the Belgian Tax Shelter programme and Creative Europe MEDIA. International distribution will be handled by Studiocanal, ensuring that audiences far beyond Ireland and Belgium will see Portlaw’s unique heritage on screen.
The series centres on a group of iconic Surrealist artists, including young portrayals of Salvador Dalí and René Magritte, who find themselves trapped in a grand mansion as a mysterious killer strikes. The newly released trailer teases a production that is both visually daring and suspenseful, merging historical intrigue with classic whodunit storytelling.
Local representatives have welcomed the production’s presence in Portlaw, noting the economic and cultural boost brought by the cast and crew during filming. The exposure is also expected to encourage cultural tourism, with international audiences soon to see Portlaw’s distinctive locations on their screens.
An official release date for This Is Not a Murder Mystery has not yet been announced, but anticipation is already building thanks to the newly unveiled trailer.
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