York filmmaker’s new thriller, Falcon, starring Peter Andre

Dave Thorp penned the 250-page script for Falcon which is set in Malta.

Speaking to The Press, Dave says he “fell in love” with the island, between Sicily and the North African coast, while filming a documentary there with Paddy Doherty – known for winning Celebrity Big Brother and appearing on reality TV programme My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.

Falcon tells the story of a dark and deluded online scheme that could destabilise the whole world.

Peter Andre plays megalomanic Hector Laidlaw, an internet fiend who uses his influencer role to manipulate and dominate the people around him.

Dave Thorp who has written the new thriller series Falcon (Image: Supplied) “He isn’t known for playing bad characters,” says Dave, adding that the Mysterious Girl singer read the script and “thought he could nail it”.

Greg Falcon (played by Noah Huntley, who has starred in Snow White and The Huntsman and 28 Days Later) stumbles across the dark online scheme while on holiday in Malta.

He and Professor Victoria Bassey (played by Victoria Ekanoye, of Coronation Street fame) come face to face with Laidlaw and learn that the sinister plot dates back almost two thousand years.

“Good and love triumph in the end,” insists Dave, who doesn’t want to give any spoilers away about the plot.

Malta's history inspired new series

The 65-year-old, from Fulford, says Malta is steeped in history which was a key inspiration for the story.

Dave explains that he drew on Malta’s role during the Second World War when writing the four-part series.

The island’s strategic position at the time – hosting several airfields and the only British harbour between Gibraltar and Alexandria in Egypt – meant it was heavily bombed during the war.

In recognition of this, King George VI awarded the people of Malta the George Cross in 1942.

A poster for Falcon, which is out next year (Image: Supplied) Dave weaved some of this history in with modern issues like online crime for the plot.

He says the series has been described as a cross between Indiana Jones and the Da Vinci Code.

It’s thought provoking but also suitable for families, he adds.

“It’s confrontational, it deals with a lot of issues: the internet and power of internet influencers, and the rise of the right wing across Europe.

“I’ve been writing scripts for many years, but I’ve had this idea in my head for a long time.”

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Falcon is currently in pre-production and due to be released next year.

It’s being made by Sheffield-based production company Picture Point Films.

Dave says the series has been picked up by a New York-based distributor which is looking at worldwide distribution for it.

In two weeks, he will be flying out to Malta with producer, Daniel Coll, to work with the Maltese crew and cast Maltese actors.

“I’m quite overwhelmed by it all,” he says.