If you have weekend plans, cancel them – Amazon Prime Video has just dropped all six episodes of a new thriller series starring Keeley Hawes.
The Assassin, written by The Missing creators Harry and Jack Williams, stars Spooks actress Keeley, 49, alongside Charlie and the Chocolate factory star Freddie Highmore.
An original series, The Assassin follows Keeley as Julie, a retired former assassin living in Greece – her life is turned upside down when her estranged son turns up looking for answers.
From that point on, it’s revealed that Julie’s past is mysterious and full of secrets, and that her old relationship was similarly filled with darkness that her son Edward wants to know more about.
However, what time they have for any confessional family reunions is ultimately cut short when their lives are plunged into danger after Julie’s past comes back to haunt her.
All six episodes were made available to stream on July 25, which gives fans the chance to binge the entire series before going back to work on Monday.
What does Metro make of The Assassin?
Metro’s TV Editor Sabrina Barr shares her thoughts after watching three out of six episodes before the series launch.
The new Amazon Prime series created by The Tourist’s Harry and Jack Williams isn’t just packed with gripping twists and stunt choreography that’ll have you on the edge of your seat. It’s also funny. And not just enough to spark a light chuckle. It’s funny in a quintessentially British fashion, with humour that’s dry and relatable. I was sucked in straight away.
It’s mind-boggling to me that Freddie, 33, and Keeley, 49, haven’t worked together before when their on-screen chemistry is this dynamic. Metro had the opportunity to attend an early screening of the first episode of The Assassin, followed by a Q&A session with the writers and actors.
The Assassin begins all guns blazing – literally – with a flashback to Julie’s past, when she’s still in full swing as a highly-trained assassin in her younger years (played by Georgina Bitmead). Fast-forward three decades, and her days as an unstoppable killing machine are behind her. Or so it would seem.
It’s Mamma Mia combined with Taken, with a dash of Black Doves thrown in for good measure. Having only seen the first three episodes out of six so far, I feel as though the series still has room to grow to give me the level of TV-watching satisfaction that I crave as an avid fan of the genre. I can’t predict how the show will end – but I’m firmly strapped in.
Read Sabrina’s full thoughts here.
Speaking to The Observer about being a ‘perimenopausal James Bond’, Keeley revealed that she actually laughed out loud when she first read The Assassin’s script.
‘When I saw that line in the script, I howled with laughter. You even glimpse her popping HRT pills. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in a drama before – [my character] can’t go on the run without her HRT.
‘[The Assassin] is an action caper that’s very funny. It’s the TV equivalent of a summer blockbuster. And we spent five months filming it in Athens. What’s not to love?’
Keeley also revealed that she did her own stunts for the series, explaining: ‘I threw a guy over a car and did virtually a whole fight sequence in a kitchen. That’s really me using a cheese fork and a blowtorch as weapons.’
She continued: ‘I’m basically the new Tom Cruise! No, I don’t think Tom needs to worry, but I can see why he enjoys doing stunts so much. I had weapons training. There’s a scene where I assemble a sniper rifle in a slick way. It’s worryingly easy, actually.’
One fan posting on X was excited about the series, with @KeeleyHawesNews saying: ‘Honestly? It’ll be a miracle if we make it out alive after watching Keeley Hawes in The Assassin’.
Under the trailer on YouTube, @MachiavellisThePrince joked: ‘This series seeks to answer the question, “Why aren’t there more middle-aged women action stars?”‘
As well as Keeley and Jack, who serve as executive producers, the series also stars Riverdale’s Gina Gershon, Baby Reindeer star Shalome Brune-Franklin, and Pirates of the Caribbean actor Jack Davenport.
The series also features Irish actor Ricard Dormer – who played Beric Dondarrion in Game of Thrones – and No Time to Die actor David Dencik.
Watch The Assassin on Amazon Prime Video.
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