Black Swan Verticals
Back to Our Work

Our first original vertical drama

Murder at Macintosh Manor

Knives Out meets Vertical Drama.

Filming is complete. Our first original series is now in its final stages.

Series at a glance

Genre
Murder mystery · Romance · Comedic elements
Themes
Old money · British · Family friction · Strong female lead · Forbidden love
Format
50 episodes (TBC), approx. 60 minutes total runtime
Aspect ratio
9:16, shot natively for vertical
Language
English (British)
Filmed in
Wales, UK, over six days
Status
Filming complete. 10 episodes ready to view.
Rights
100% owned by Black Swan, including IP. Available for licensing.
Murder at Macintosh Manor series poster

The story

One dinner. A family full of secrets.

Eliza Macintosh gathers her family at the manor for a reunion dinner, announcing news that will change everything. Before she can reveal it, she’s murdered.

Fran sees what everyone else misses.

Eliza’s arrogant adopted son, a crime writer, immediately takes charge, convinced his fictional detective instincts make him the obvious choice to solve the case. They don’t.

It’s his quietly brilliant, deeply underestimated wife, Fran, who solves it - uncovering a decades-old family conspiracy at the heart of the murder and a killer hiding in plain sight, all while starting a heated affair with one of the suspects…

The leading cast

  • Coco Taylor as Fran in Murder at Macintosh Manor

    Coco Taylor

    as Fran

    Led ReelShort's Guarding Her Body, Claiming Her Heart (14.8M views) and played Jane Bennett in ReelShort's Pride and Prejudice. The only British actor nominated at the 2025 Vertical Drama Love Awards (Female Rising Star).

  • Robert Keefe as C.M. in Murder at Macintosh Manor

    Robert Keefe

    as C.M.

    LA-based dual US/UK citizen with 20+ vertical credits, including ReelShort's American Sniper: The Kid of Guns (13.4M views). Credits also include Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

  • Bradley Peake as Peter in Murder at Macintosh Manor

    Bradley Peake

    as Peter

    15 verticals, 9 as male lead, including ShortMax's My Farmer Dad is Secretly An Archmage and MoboReels chart-toppers.

Collage of Murder at Macintosh Manor filming stills featuring dinner scenes, manor grounds and cast in costume

Local Welsh talent

  • Judith Haley in a burgundy dress standing beside a staircase

    Judith Haley

  • Simon Price in a black tuxedo seated on a staircase

    Simon Price

  • JJ Bennett in a green suit and glasses seated on a staircase

    JJ Bennett

  • Brooke Thomas in a maid costume seated on a staircase

    Brooke Thomas

  • Tamara Brabon in a red dress seated on a staircase

    Tamara Brabon

  • James Ellacott in a police costume seated on a staircase

    James Ellacott

Murder at Macintosh Manor takes you on a deliciously wicked ride packed with scandalous secrets, sharp humour, and plenty of glamour.

For buyers

Available on request: trailer, 10-episode screener, poster variations, cast and crew interviews, character stills and behind-the-scenes content.

Request a screener

Behind the scenes

Explore the Culture gallery
Murder at Macintosh Manor camera crew working on an outdoor scene
Costume adjustments for a Murder at Macintosh Manor cast member in evening wear
Crew member checking Murder at Macintosh Manor production monitors indoors
Murder at Macintosh Manor cast and crew preparing a scene with a clapperboard

In vertical

Murder at Macintosh Manor

Clip 01
Clip 02
Clip 03
Clip 04
Clip 05

Let's talk.

contact@blackswanverticals.co.uk
HQ: Great Point Studios, Wentloog Ave, Cardiff, CF3 2GH
Black Swan Verticals

© 2026 Black Swan Verticals. All rights reserved.

PrivacyTerms

Black Swan Verticals Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Company number: 17098388. Registered office: C/O Gryson House, The Grove, Pontllanfraith, Blackwood, United Kingdom, NP12 2EQ.