Latest news with #Spooks'
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
The Assassin cast in full as Line of Duty and Riverdale stars join thriller
The Assassin is a drama that follows Julie, a woman with a dark past who is forced to confront old demons when she is reunited with her son, Edward Prime Video's latest offering, 'The Assassin', is creating quite the buzz with its impressive ensemble cast. The drama delves into the complex dynamics between a mother and her son as they navigate their strained relationship amidst life-threatening challenges. As Julie's history starts to resurface, threatening to expose her former life's secrets, she and her son must band together in a desperate bid for survival. Julie star Keeley Hawes opened up about her own parenting experiences ahead of the show. The show's creators, Harry and Jack Williams, opened up about the core of Julie and Edward's (Freddie Highmore) fraught bond: "We wanted to get a sense early on that there was something unresolved in this relationship, something that needed fixing, and that's the story of this series." They added: "They both come into it and are awkward with each other, and there's a history and coldness, and they haven't quite connected." For those eager to know more about the cast, here's the lowdown. Julie - Keeley Hawes Taking on the role of Julie is Keeley Hawes, who viewers might recognise from her gripping performances in 'Line of Duty' as DI Lindsay Denton or as Home Secretary Julia Montague in the BBC hit 'Bodyguard'. Off-screen, Hawes tied the knot with her 'Spooks' co-star Matthew Macfadyen in 2004, and the couple share two children. She also has another son from her previous marriage to DJ Spencer McCallum in 2001. Edward - Freddie Highmore Stepping into the shoes of Edward is Freddie Highmore, celebrated for his roles in 'Bates Motel', 'The Good Doctor', and 'Finding Neverland'. In a personal revelation on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' in September 2021, Highmore disclosed that he had recently wed, though he kept the identity of his wife under wraps. He joyfully remarked: "I'm as happy as a Brit can be and I'm married to a very wonderful woman now, so yes I feel very happy." Discussing his experience working with Hawes on their new project, he shared: "Keeley is brilliant and was one of the main reasons that I wanted to be part of this project." He praised her talent, saying: "She is so talented and such a brilliant actor, whilst also being a lovely person with the best attitude." He added: "We both have a similar sense of humour too, and hopefully that will translate into the series. We've certainly bonded and I can't imagine anyone better to try and nail that tone down with than her." Marie - Gina Gershon Gina Gershon boasts an impressive resume with roles in major films like P.S. I Love You and House of Versace, as well as TV appearances in Riverdale and New Amsterdam. Her aspirations were always set on acting, although she initially started out in music and dance. The celebrity was romantically linked with Belgian entrepreneur and ex-footballer Robert Dekeyser from 2015 until 2018. Luka - Gerald Kyd Portrayed by Gerald Kyd, who has a rich heritage being half-Greek and half-Scottish, he's recognised for his role as Sean Maddox in Casualty. Kyd is also celebrated for his performances in Malory Towers, The Split, and The Defender. Reflecting on his heritage and career, he stated: "I have a Greek background, my grandparents were from Greece, and in twenty-five years as an actor, I've only been asked to play a Greek part twice. "So, it was very exciting to get this part, and to read the scripts, which are just incredible. They're fast-paced, exciting, thrilling, and funny as well. I was desperate to be part of it." Kayla - Shalom Brune-Franklin Kayla is portrayed by Shalom Brune-Franklin, a 30 year old British-Australian actress celebrated for her roles in Our Girl and The State. Audiences might also recognise her as Aoife from the Australian series Doctor Doctor, or her appearance in The Tourist. Ezra - Devon Terrell Ezra is brought to life by Devon Terrell, who viewers may remember as Arthur from the Netflix original series Cursed. Discussing his experience working with the ensemble cast on this new venture, he expressed: "Everything enticed me. The opportunity to work on such brilliant writing with such incredible actors, and to have a chance to work with Shalom. "We were friends before, but I think she's an amazing actress, and I knew the character arcs were so developed that we could really play. Working on material like this is an actor's dream."
Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
The Assassin release date, cast and episode count for star-studded spy thriller
The Assassin is set to be the next big TV show on Prime Video with a star-studded cast led by Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore Prime Video is gearing up for the launch of its latest thriller, 'The Assassin', amidst a buzz of excitement for the show's A-list cast and stunning Grecian setting. The series follows Julie, a retired assassin, and her son Edward as they navigate their strained relationship while fighting to stay alive. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Greece, 'The Assassin' promises a mix of breathtaking stunts, witty repartee, and intense character dynamics. Creators Harry and Jack Williams shared: "At its heart, it's an emotional story about a mother and a son, with several other genre elements at play." They added: "There are assassins, action, comedy, and all in the lovely setting of Greece." Here's the lowdown on what to expect from the much-anticipated series. When can viewers expect The Assassin to hit Prime Video? The Assassin airs on Prime Video globally on July 25, with all of the episodes available to stream. Titles on Prime Video typically become available at midnight on their release date. Who is in The Assassin? Keeley Hawes, 49, is set to star, bringing her experience from 'Spooks' and 'Ashes to Ashes' to the table. Freddie Highmore, 33, also joins the cast, known for his roles in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and 'Bates Motel'. Highmore expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating: "The unique tone of the series was also a big draw for me. It's a thriller that has high stakes, it's tense and violent at times, but at the same time, there's always this dark humour that underlies it. "The character moments, the central relationship, and those beats of dark humour and wit are exciting and really attracted me to the project." Star-studded The Assassin introduces Gina Gershon as Marie, with Gerald Kyd featuring as Luka. Age-defying Gershon, at 63, is an American icon known for roles in Showgirls, Killer Joe, and House of Versace. Meanwhile, Kyd brings a blend of Greek and Scottish heritage to his role, previously seen as Sean Maddox in Casualty. Adding fresh talent, Shalom Brune-Franklin plays Kayla, and Devon Terrell steps in as her sibling Ezra. Brune-Franklin, a Brit-Australian talent, has shone in hits such as Our Girl, The Tourist, and The State. Terrell, hailing from Down Under, is celebrated for portraying Barack Obama in the biopic Barry from 2016. How many episodes are in The Assassin? The series is made up of six episodes, which will all be available to watch at the same time. In The Assassin's first episode, we unravel the tangled past between Julie and Edward, culminating in a finale where Julie must face up to her previous life choices. As it stands, it's unclear whether this gripping story will continue beyond its introductory season or remain a succinct miniseries. Catch the thrilling drama The Assassin exclusively on Prime Video come July 25.
Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Martin Compston's 'terrific mystery' series now free to stream
The thriller is based on the book by Dorothy Koomson and follows two estranged friends who are reunited 17 years after being accused of murdering their schoolteacher Line of Duty aficionados are in for a surprise as ITVX has added a lesser-known series featuring Martin Compston to its streaming service. The drama, which stars Jodhi May from Dune Prophecy and Spooks' Lorraine Burroughs, is adapted from Dorothy Koomson's novel. It tells the tale of two former friends who come back together after 17 years, having once been accused of killing their schoolteacher (portrayed by Compston) during their teenage years. The series in question is The Ice Cream Girls, which at the time of its original airing was hailed by viewers as "a terrific mystery". A fan commented on IMDb: "You will be entertained and gripped until the surprising conclusion." This short series consists of only three episodes, allowing UK viewers to binge-watch it for free, albeit with advertisements. Another viewer rated it highly with 9 out of 10 stars, stating: "I have to admit I didn't read the book and I can't make a parallel between it and the series but maybe I don't have to." They continued: "This was another perspective of the Ice Cream Girls story and it can be appreciated even if you haven't read the book. "I didn't expect the ending and as I have understood it is different from the book, but I have really enjoyed it." The show garnered impressive ratings, with its premiere episode attracting 5.53 million viewers. Shot in Bray, County Wicklow, the location stands in for the seaside city of Brighton. Georgina Campbell and Holli Dempsey star as the younger versions of Serena Gorringe and Poppy Carlisle, the duo implicated in the murder. Sam Wollaston from The Guardian shared his thoughts on the premiere, remarking: "There's an obviousness to it. An ITV drama-ness about it. It's so consciously trying to be a psychological thriller, not just your bog-standard thriller." He continued, expressing his commitment despite reservations: "I'll watch the rest, because it's enthralling enough for me to want to know what happens, or rather what happened. But I won't be lying awake at night thinking about it." The gripping series, The Ice Cream Girls, is currently available for streaming on ITVX.
