Strike season seven: What we know about TV adaptation of The Running Grave, including cast and release date
The first images from Strike’s seventh season are out, showing Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger back as Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott.
Season seven adapts The Running Grave, the next book in the series by J.K. Rowling, writing under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.
This time, Strike and Ellacott are hired by Sir Colin and Sally Edensor, who are trying to reach their estranged son, Will. They want the detectives to investigate the Universal Humanitarian Church, a cult that has drawn Will in and drained his trust fund.
The church is led by Jonathan Wace and protected by a polished public image, celebrity supporters, and lawyers who keep critics quiet. To investigate claims of abuse, Robin goes undercover at the group’s remote base in Norfolk, known as Chapman Farm. The church’s belief system centres on a figure called the Drowned Prophet, Daiyu, who followers believe has been reincarnated.
While Strike interviews former members, Robin faces increasing pressure inside the compound. The case hinges on uncovering what really happened to the Drowned Prophet, which pulls both detectives into new and dangerous territory.
Along with Burke and Grainger, several regular cast members return, including Ruth Sheen, Jack Greenlees, Tupele Dorgu, Natasha O’Keeffe, Sarah Sweeney, Ben Crompton, Stephen Hagan, and Caitlin Innes Edwards.
New cast for season seven includes James Fleet as Sir Colin Edensor, Nichola McAuliffe as Shelley Heaton, Keeley Forsyth as Mazu Wace, Fabian McCallum as Will Edensor, and John Lynch as Jonathan Wace.
The five-part season was adapted by Tom Edge, who has written for the show since season two. Director Sue Tully also returns after handling the previous three seasons.
Strike season seven will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2026. All six earlier seasons are streaming now on iPlayer.