Richard Gadd of “Baby Reindeer” gets new season after controversy over Netflix show

Richard Gadd’s next television role was announced amid the ongoing legal battle over Baby reindeer.

The British actor will star in, write and executive produce a new series in association with HBO and the BBC. The working title is currently Lions.

Set in Scotland, the series aims to “capture the wild energy of a changing city” as estranged brothers Niall and Ruben grapple with a “difficult question: what does it mean to be a man?”

After Ruben arrives at Niall’s wedding, according to the logline, there is “an explosion of violence that catapults us back into their lives.” The story will span “nearly forty years from the 1980s to today” and “cover the highs and lows of the brothers’ relationship, from when they met as teenagers to when they fell apart as adults – with all the good, bad, horrible, funny, angry and challenging moments along the way.”

In a statement, 35-year-old Gadd said it was a dream come true to work with HBO when he thought about receiving box sets of the network’s shows, such as The Sopranos And The cable, and watching them “from beginning to end” was “some of the happiest moments of my childhood.”

“Since then, it’s always been my dream to work with HBO and be part of their legendary slate of shows,” he said. “I’m so grateful to Francesca Orsi, Kara Buckley and Clint LaVigne for taking this opportunity on the show, and also to Ruben and Niall who – despite growing up on a dead-end job in Scotland – would absolutely pinch themselves to do this! I can’t wait to get started.”

Since the premiere of Baby reindeer on Netflix—which Gadd adapted from a one-man play he wrote and performed several years ago, and which is loosely based on true events that happened to Gadd when he was being chased—there was plenty of controversy when the true inspiration behind the story came to light.

Fiona Harvey, who inspired the fictional stalker Martha, played by Jessica Gunning, began speaking out after the series’ huge success. In April, she remained anonymous but told Daily Mail that she was a “victim” because Gadd had written a “bloody show” about her and was now using it to “stalk” her.

Harvey then continued Piers Morgan uncensored and denied the claims, calling the story “utter nonsense.”

Although she admitted that she may have sent “a few emails” to Gadd, she denied that there were more than 40,000 – as claimed in the series – as she described Gadd as “psychotic”.

Earlier this month, Harvey upped the ante when she filed a lawsuit against Netflix, claiming its portrayal of Martha was defamatory and inaccurate. According to documents obtained by PEOPLE, she accused Netflix and Gadd of “destroying” her livelihood. She is seeking more than $170 million in damages.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Baby reindeer is now streaming on Netflix.