If you’ve binged the likes of Slow Horses, The Night Manager and Killing Eve and are wondering what’s coming next, you’re in the right place. We’ve had a sneak preview of all the new spy series coming our way in order to bring you the truly unmissable ones – one of which we’re tipping to be even better than The Night Manager.
From Hannah Waddingham’s highly anticipated show, Ride or Die, to a Killing Eve prequel and the return of a hit series starring Sarah Lancashire, there’s heaps of great stuff to the small screen very soon. So, make yourself comfortable for the 7 best spy thrillers coming to ITV, Netflix, the BBC and more.
The Agency
If you’re a Slow Horses fan and haven’t yet dived into The Agency, it’s well worth catching up ahead of series two’s imminent arrival. Produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov, Michael Fassbender plays CIA agent Martian who has an exceptional track record as one of the agency's most reliable operatives - until he finds himself caught between his duties and a love interest. In series two, we'll find him walking an increasingly dangerous line as he tries to save said love interest, Samia (Jodie Turner-Smith), who's now a political prisoner in Sudan. As good as Slow Horses. Series 2 is coming to Paramount+ on Sunday 21st June.
Ride or Die
It’s been too long since Hannah Waddingham was last on our screens and she’s about to make up for it with Ride or Die. The new espionage series follows Judith (played by Hannah), who has been secretly working as a highly trained assassin. When she botches a job and things go awry, Judith brings her best friend Debbie (Octavia Spencer) along for the ride. But not only do they have a mysterious enemy to hide from, they end up with a fractured relationship to repair, too. Coming to Prime Video on Wednesday 15thJuly.
Honey
What could be better than the return of Killing Eve? A prequel, naturally. The BBC’s smart - and playful - new series takes us back to 1980s Berlin, where Martha (pronounced Marta) - who we believe to be the younger version of Carolyn Martens, the MI6 officer played by Fiona Shaw in Killing Eve, is a deep cover agent for MI6. Caught between enemies and threats, she also finds herself caught in quite the love triangle. Too good to miss. Coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer soon.
The Assassin
Keeley Hawes' sensational spy thriller is on its way back for a second series. Series one introduced us to Julie (played by Keeley), a retired assassin attempting to lead a quiet life on an idyllic Greek island, and her estranged son, Edward (Freddie Highmore) – and saw the pair go on the run across Europe. Now, they’re back and despite the fact they’ve had a massive fall-out, they must put their differences aside to take on Spain’s underworld. Just a small job then… Series 2 is coming to Prime Video soon.
What to read next
Legacy of Spies
John le Carré’s best-selling novel, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, has been turned into an eight-part drama that we’re tipping to be better than The Night Manager. The series will chart George Smiley’s (Matthew Macfadyen, pictured above in Quiz) overarching quest for his nemesis, Russian master-spy Karla, through the Cold War, with Charlie Hunnam, Alec Leamas and Daniel Brühl also among the cast. The producers have called it “the most ambitious and all-encompassing adaptation of le Carré’s work to date”, which means we’re in for quite a treat. Coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer soon.
Black Doves
Keira Knightley is stepping back into the shoes of Helen Webb, the UK Defence Secretary’s wife who's secretly a spy and covertly selling government secrets to a shadowy organisation known as the Black Doves. Now, her husband, Wallace (Buchan), is preparing to become Prime Minister, her handler Mrs. Reed (Sarah Lancashire) is ensnared in a ruthless plot to undermine her position in the Black Doves, and Helen is, thankfully, reunited with her best friend Sam (Ben Whishaw), who’s lost most of his lucrative contracts as a hitman. Expect another addictive thrill ride. Series 2 is coming to Netflix soon.
Lioness
ITVX has snapped up the endlessly thrilling second series of Lioness, which follows an all-female crew of undercover CIA operatives (the Lionesses), who are tasked with infiltrating terrorist organisations. Using subversive tactics - befriending the wives and girlfriends of terrorists - their mission is to thwart the next devastating terror attack, but just how far will they go in order to do it, and how much danger will they put themselves in along the way? It’s a star-studded affair with the likes of Zoe Saldaña, Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman among the cast. Series 2 is coming soon to ITVX.
