Freddie Highmore and David Shore, who worked together on the popular medical drama ‘The Good Doctor,’ are reuniting for a new project titled ‘I’m Not Here to Hurt You.’ The crime drama, produced by Blink49 Studios and Sony Pictures Television, follows an upstanding family man who spirals into a life of crime after a bicycle accident. The show is inspired by the real-life story of ‘Ireland’s most polite bank robber’ and the Irish Independent podcast of the same name. Sony Pictures TV previewed the project at its annual L.A. Screenings presentation on May 17, 2020.

A Continuing Creative Partnership

Highmore and Shore previously collaborated on ‘The Good Doctor,’ which aired for seven seasons on ABC from 2017 to 2024. The series, which ran for 126 episodes, features Highmore as Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young doctor with autism. The show was well-received but also faced criticism for its portrayal of autism. In a joint statement, Highmore and Shore said, ‘We weren’t quite done with each other after all. We’re thrilled to be collaborating again, excited to return to Canada alongside our partners at Bell and Blink49 Studios, and grateful for Sony’s continued support. And now we have to get to work.’

Fictional Doctors in Popular Culture

According to a national research poll by Weiss & Paarz, a legal firm specializing in medical malpractice, Dr. Nick from ‘The Simpsons’ is the most popular fictional doctor in the U.S., selected in seven states. Dr. Watson from the Sherlock Holmes series came in second. Louisiana residents, however, chose Dr. Shaun Murphy from ‘The Good Doctor’ as their favorite fictional doctor. The show, which ended its run in 2024, follows a young doctor with autism who moves from Casper, Wyoming to San Jose, California.

The Play and Its Adaptations

Neil Simon’s 1973 play ‘The Good Doctor’ is being presented by Millersville University Theatre from March 4 to 7, 2025. The play, which adapts several short stories by Anton Chekhov, consists of a series of comic vignettes narrated by ‘The Writer.’ The university’s production includes musical elements and explores themes of human folly and miscommunication. Tickets for the show are available online.

According to fernsehserien.de, the new series ‘I’m Not Here to Hurt You’ was presented at Sony Pictures Television’s L.A. Screenings. The show, which is being produced by Blink49 Studios, will be distributed internationally by Sony. Highmore and Shore are credited with co-developing the series, with Highmore starring in the lead role. The story centers on a family man whose life unravels after he accidentally causes a death in a bicycle accident. His noble but futile goal of never harming anyone again leads him into a criminal underworld.

According to SensaCine, Highmore and Shore’s new project is set to continue their creative partnership, which began with ‘The Good Doctor.’ The series is based on a real-life case in Ireland involving a man known for his courteous approach to bank robbery. Highmore will star in the lead role, playing a father of a family whose life takes a dramatic turn after an accidental death. The show will explore the moral contradictions and personal struggles of the protagonist. While no official network or release date has been announced, the project is expected to build on the success of ‘The Good Doctor.’