Is This Upcoming Prime Video Thriller The New The Day Of The Jackal?

Who is British television’s queen of thrillers? While her most recent TV role was an Austen costume drama, and she was most recently spotted filming a romcom in which she stars as a nun, with Bodyguard, Line of Duty, Honour and Ashes to Ashes under her belt, we know that when Keeley Hawes is pegged to star in an action-packed drama, it’s going to be good. That’s why our eyes are trained on The Assassin, a new drama launching on Prime Video in July. Here’s everything we know so far.

The Assassin: Plot, Cast, Release Date & More

Julie (KEELEY HAWES) in The Assassin. (Prime Video)

What Is The Plot?

Made up of six episodes, The Assassin centres on retired British assassin Julie (Keeley Hawes), who now lives a sun-soaked, secluded life on a Greek island. But the peace is disrupted when Julie is contacted by her estranged son, Edward (Freddie Highmore), who visits her from England in a somewhat thorny reunion.

Freddie is looking for answers – about his father, about his mother’s past – but he can’t find the right time to talk to his frustratingly emotionally distant mother. When he finally does, both get more than they bargained for when Julie’s past suddenly catches up with her, and they’re forced to go on the run together across Europe.

Edward (FREDDIE HIGHMORE) in The Assassin. (Prime Video)

With a jet-setting vibe and a spy backdrop, there’s something The Day of the Jackal-esque about The Assassin that we’re excited to sink our teeth into. Now on the move, Edward’s hunt for the truth clashes with Julie’s secrecy – but the two must work together to survive. A dark conspiracy emerges and, in a race against time, Julie must fight to save Edward and their dysfunctional relationship in a battle that unfolds across nations and across time.

Filmed in Greece, The Assassin was written and created by brother duo Harry and Jack Williams, who have worked across everything from Hotel Babylon to Call the Midwife. However, they’re best known for the work they’ve created under their own production company, Two Brothers Pictures, set up in 2014, counting Fleabag, Liar, The Missing, One of Us, The Tourist and plenty more among their credits.

GINA GERSHON stars as Marie in The Assassin. (Prime Video)

The Cast Of The Assassin

Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore lead the series, joined by Gina Gershon, Shalom Brune-Franklin and Jack Davenport in supporting roles. The full cast we know so far is as follows:

• Keeley Hawes as Julie
• Freddie Highmore as Edward
• Gina Gershon as Marie
• Shalom Brune-Franklin as Kayla
• Jack Davenport
• Alan Dale as Aaron Cross
• Gerald Kyd as Luka
• Devon Terrell as Ezra
• Richard Dormer as Damian
• David Dencik

GERALD KYD stars as Luka in The Assassin. (Prime Video).

DEVON TERRELL Stars as Ezra in The Assassin. (Prime Video)

RICHARD DORMER stars as Damian in The Assassin. (Prime Video)

While Keeley Hawes is a very familiar face on British TV screens, her on-screen son Freddie Highmore is perhaps better known Stateside. There, he made a name for himself leading the creepy contemporary Psycho prequel Bates Motel (2013–2017), before leading The Good Doctor (2017–2024) as Dr Shaun Murphy, a young surgical resident with autism. If you still can’t place him, you might recognise Highmore from his child acting days, when he starred in Tim Burton’s 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory remake as well as The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008).

Release Date

All six episodes of The Assassin are expected to launch on Prime Video in July, though a specific release date is still TBC.