"Dr House's" Hugh Laurie in series to be filmed in Greece - Inspired by archeology

The new project bears the signature of Amy Poehler—known from Mean Girls—and Mike Schur, creators of the Emmy-award-winning political, satirical series Parks and Recreation, which blends fiction with realistic elements. The upcoming series, titled Dig, in addition to beautiful shots of Greece’s archaeological sites and intense suspense, appears to feature an outstanding female cast alongside Hugh Laurie. This includes the series’ creator Amy Poehler in a leading role; Geraldine Viswanathan, known from the films Blockers, Hala, Bad Education, and Thunderbolts; and Fina Strazza, whom audiences know from the musical Matilda.

As for production, in addition to Universal Television, the companies involved include 3 Arts Entertainment, Sharon Jackson’s Ocean Avenue, Mike Schur’s Fremulon, and Amy Poehler’s Paper Kite Productions.

The new role

Distinctly British finesse and caustic humor are the defining traits that made Hugh Laurie popular from the start with a demanding, wide audience, giving a European stamp and English bite to the Hollywood series and films in which he starred. The character of Dr. House from the series House, M.D. made television history in Greece, while Laurie himself expressed strong support for the country during the years of the economic crisis. The intense cynicism of the famous doctor—marked by depression, misanthropic tendencies, and addictions—made an already unconventional role even more striking, synonymous with the commanding presence of the (thoroughly) Oxford-educated Laurie.

He has already written a novel, revealing his literary talents; he conspicuously avoids the glare of stardom and prefers quality over excess. He takes the same approach to his roles, having repeatedly turned down offers for mass-appeal series in favor of parts with substance, balancing between the mainstream and the refined.

That is why, so many years later, he remains at the forefront of popularity by carefully choosing his roles—such as that of the renowned archaeologist following the unconventional doctor. From the physician who solved problems with strange yet lucid insights, Hugh Laurie now portrays, in the new series, Neville, a British professor of Archaeology, wholly devoted to his science and an “ideal” mentor for the younger generation of researchers at the excavation site.

The inspiration

More precisely, the series Dig, based on the bestselling novel Excavations by Kate Myers, follows the stories of four women working on an excavation in Greece. Despite their different characters and personalities, a secret that could rewrite history brings them together—and confronts them with various challenges. Myers’ book, which linked archaeology with Greek history and the search for identity, won devoted readers and glowing reviews, remaining at the top of bestseller lists for months.

A central question running through the book lies in the hypothetical scenario of what the essence and evolution of the Olympic Games would have been like if they had been held by women—something that Greek history itself answers. Athletic competitions held in honor of the mother of the gods, Hera, in the homeland of the Olympic Games, Olympia and Argos, had an exclusively female character. Especially at the Heraia of Argos, participation was universal, with women from all regions of the wider Greek world taking part. These were primarily footraces, as in Olympia, but also included a wider variety of events such as wrestling and even chariot racing. The games were more broadly known as the “Bronze Games,” due to the bronze prizes awarded to the winners.

This lesser-known dimension is brought to light by Myers’ book, on which the series focuses, centering on ancient Greek history while offering a feminist perspective and combining academic interest with satire, classical knowledge, and an ideal backdrop.

The four women essentially represent different paths and have contrasting personalities: Kara has just emerged from a broken marriage and seeks a new purpose in life, which she finds in this unusual mission; Claire, portrayed by Adah Thomas, is the head of the lab and a risk-taking excavator who believes great achievements come only by pushing boundaries; Patty, more naïve and romantic than the others, searches not only for archaeological secrets but also for ideal love; and Dylan, played by Viswanathan, facing a midlife and existential crisis, seeks new meaning by returning to the excavation after many years.

As the excavation progresses and conflicts escalate, the four women are forced to set aside their personal burdens and join forces—not only to uncover the truth behind the ancient find, but also to redefine their relationships with one another. Each of them, beyond her past and personal story, brings a different way of fulfilling the mission they have undertaken—“digging” not only at the site but also into their own pasts—hence the title Dig. Along the way, they uncover things they did not want to confront, bringing to light unheard-of aspects of their own emotional and intellectual makeup.

Here, the metaphor of “excavation” fits perfectly—as an archaeological process, but also as a form of knowledge, since it brings to the surface things no one would expect to exist. Heading the excavation is Dr. Charles Barton, an authoritarian and eccentric figure, ideal for Hugh Laurie’s personality. Laurie maintains long-standing ties with Greece and is well acquainted with ancient Greek history—hence the role.

Crucial at this point was Hugh Laurie’s deep friendship with Stephen Fry, who passed on his love for Greek history and mythology—knowledge Laurie gained through reading Fry’s books. Indeed, Fry was the one who persuaded him to take on various roles with references to Greece. The series Blackadder enjoyed enormous success with its trademark biting British humor, in which the famous actor portrayed Prince George. Moreover, in a BBC documentary dedicated to Laurie’s 50th birthday, he himself stated how pivotal their acquaintance was to the development of his career.

Laurie is currently considered one of the highest-paid actors and appears in the Guinness Book of Records as the most-watched television character, as Dr. House is what made House, M.D. famous—surpassing 85 million viewers worldwide.

Therefore, the proposal to the famously selective Hugh Laurie to participate in a series with an ancient Greek backdrop could only receive a positive response, as it connects personal British humor with details from ancient Greek history. In addition, the central character seems perfectly suited to his unconventional personality and love for Greek myths.

The presence of an actor like Hugh Laurie, combined with talented creators and an original concept, promises a production that may be widely discussed—not only for its plot, but also for its relationship with the place where it is filmed, raising the bar for productions shot in Greece.

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Unlike other series, where filming locations are unclear and it takes imagination to realize, for example, that streets meant to depict Tehran are actually around Syntagma Square, in this case the story will not only draw inspiration from the rich ancient Greek world but will also place our own ancient landmarks at its center.

Ultimately, beyond showcasing Greek landscapes on a global level, such a production brings economic activity, support staff, and opportunities for collaboration with Greek production bodies and local companies—an entirely positive development for the country.

Filming of Dig is scheduled to take place in Greece and Los Angeles from mid-January through spring 2026, and it has already been discussed in the international press—kicking off, in the best possible way, the international productions set to be filmed across different parts of Greece in 2026.