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Sky has unveiled the first look at its upcoming prestige drama ‘Amadeus,’ a bold five-part reimagining of Peter Shaffer’s award-winning stage play. The series stars Will Sharpe as the genius and self-destructive Wolfgang ‘Amadeus’ Mozart, Paul Bettany as his envious rival Antonio Salieri, and Gabrielle Creevy as Mozart’s fiercely loyal wife Constanze Weber.

Adapted by Joe Barton, ‘Amadeus’ explores the meteoric rise and tragic downfall of one of history’s most iconic composers — and rockstar virtuoso of the 18th century.

Sky Original Amadeus First look – Paul Bettany as Salieri

Joining Sharpe, Bettany and Creevy in a stellar cast lineup is Rory Kinnear as Emperor Joseph, Lucy Cohu (Becoming Jane) as Cecilia Weber,...

Have You Seen This Underrated British Miniseries? (Photo Credit – Netflix)

There’s one mini-series buried among the endless Netflix options that keeps popping up in recommendations from those who’ve already discovered it. It is not new and not what you would expect to find trending, but it has quietly built a reputation that few shows manage. Giri/Haji, with a perfect score of 100 from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a wave of praise online, has become one of those shows people can’t stop pushing others to watch.

What Is Netflix’s Giri/Haji About?

First aired on the BBC back in 2019 before making its way to Netflix in 2020, the show blends Japanese and British storytelling in a way that makes it stand out immediately. It is set between the streets of Tokyo and the alleys of London and centers on detective Kenzo Mori, who lands in England searching for answers...

One of Paapa Essiedu's not-so-old shows is coming to the U.S. for the first time, very soon, but only for a limited time. July will see the debut of all sixteen episodes of The Lazarus Project arrive exclusively on Netflix, over a year after it was cancelled. The British sci-fi thriller series was created by Joe Barton, who is also behind similarly gripping Netflix titles such as Giri/Haji, Black Doves, and The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself.

Produced by Adam Knopf,The Lazarus Project will be available to watch on Netflix starting Monday, July 28, according to What's on Netflix. Alongside Essiedu, the cast features Caroline Quentin, Tom Burke, Anjli Mohindra, Rudi Dharmalingam, Charly Clive, Salóme Gunnarsdóttir, Lukas Loughran, and Vinette Robinson. The action series premiered on June 16, 2022, and was renewed for another run in August of the same year. Season 2 then debuted on November 15, 2023, months before the show...

Season 2 of Shogun is currently in development, and fans of the acclaimed novel by James Clavell are equal parts anxious and excited to see how FX will proceed with the series while going off-book. Debuting in 2024, Shogun was the hit drama of the year, sweeping up at the Emmys earlier this year and dominating the pop-cultural conversation. Fans are completely in the dark as to what will happen in Season 2, but one of the show's returning stars, Takehiro Hira, is here to clue us all in on what to expect, including a major death!

Takehiro Hira recently sat down with MovieWeb's George Edelman, and the beloved Japanese actor revealed far more than fans were expecting about Season 2 of Shogun and his role in it. "Well, there is a Season 2 of Shogun planned," the Giri/Haji and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters star began. "It’s going to be shot next year, and...

Exclusive: Yôsuke Kubozuka will star in Gomusin, a Japan-uk-South Korea-set film shooting next year. It will be the first project from Average Plus Productions, a new label set up by former Fremantle drama exec Nastasja Borgeot. Japan’s Generation 11 is on board as a co-production partner on the movie, which Bryerly Long will direct.

Kubozuka, a Japanese Academy Award winner, is known for roles in HBO’s Tokyo Vice, BBC and Netflix co-production Giri/Haji, and Martin Scorsese movie Silence. Deadline can share the news as Borgeot lands in Cannes with her new shingle for meetings with sales agents and distributors.

Gomusin will follow Amiya, a British woman of Japanese and Korean descent. She receives a mysterious package at her London home addressed to her late father; it contains a gomusin, an old Korean shoe engraved with the word ‘Tokyo’. She travels to Japan to unravel the mystery and crosses paths...

Exclusive: Shōgun Emmy winner Anna Sawai and Drive My Car star Hidetoshi Nishijima are set to join the cast of the A24 crime pic Enemies, starring Austin Butler and Jeremy Allen White. Henry Dunham is writing and directing.

Cameras roll this summer in Chicago on the reported $25M production, in which a relentless detective and an infamous contract killer collide in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen of Square Peg are producing alongside A24. Alejandro De Leon also will produce. Josh Bachove executive produces.

Sawai took the town by storm last year following her star turn in Shōgun, winning a history-making Emmy, a SAG Award and a Golden Globe for her performance as Lady Mariko in the FX drama series.

Sawai is currently in production on (Saint) Peter, a coming-of-age dramedy executive produced by Peter Farrelly, and recently wrapped production on the second season...

Picture: Netflix

Lena Dunham, creator of HBO’s award-winning series Girls, will soon deliver Netflix’s new comedy series Too Much. Set to consist of 10 episodes, the new show is expected to land on Netflix globally on July 10th, 2025. Here’s an updated guide to everything we know about Lena Dunham’s Too Much.

The new is co-created by Lena Dunham, who wears multiple hats for this series! She’s directing, writing, starring, and producing the new 10-episode series. Dunham’s directing credits include the seminal and beloved series Girls, which ran for six seasons on HBO. More recent credits include Industry, Catherine Called Birdy, and more.

Dunham is reuniting with Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, the producers’ team at Working Title Television (Wttv), for the new project. They worked with her on Catherine Called Birdy, starring Bella Ramsey. Camilla Bray (via her production outfit Rosetta Productions) and Mark Freeland...

Exclusive: Following her star-making performance in the FX series Shōgun, Anna Sawai looks to have found her big follow-up. Sources tell Deadline that the Emmy winner is set to co-star in Amazon MGM Studios’ How to Rob a Bank, from director David Leitch, Imagine Entertainment and 87North Productions. Sawai joins previously announced stars Nicholas Hoult and Pete Davidson, and sources say the film will be released in theaters.

Plot details are being kept under wraps, but given Leitch’s track record of delivering on big thrills and fun set pieces in films like Bullet Train, Deadpool 2 and most recently The Fall Guy, expect something similar in scope.

87North’s Kelly McCormick and Leitch will produce alongside Imagine’s Brian Grazer, Jeb Brody and Allan Mandelbaum. Mark Bianculli wrote the script and will executive produce.

Sawai took the town by storm last year following her Emmy-winning performance in Shogun.

Apple TV+ has just set a new rom-com series, and you won't believe who is confirmed to star in it. It's titled Prodigies, and it stars a combination of actors that we definitely weren't expecting but are looking forward to seeing together on screen.

Are you a fan of the Hulu comedy-drama series The Bear and HBO's black comedy anthology series The White Lotus? If so, you're in for a treat! Starring opposite each other in this upcoming Apple TV+ series are Ayo Edebiri and Will Sharpe. Edebiri is best known for playing the role of young chef Sydney Adamu in The Bear, while Sharpe portrayed the role of Ethan Spiller in the second season of The White Lotus. Both will be playing much different roles in Prodigies, but talented actors such as them should have no problem embodying their new characters.

Will Sharpe in The White Lotus season 2 | HBO...

Being incredibly gifted often comes with a price. While your talent could take you far, it could also make you a target for those looking to take advantage. However, there’s a chance for child prodigies to find solace in one another as they identify with unique circumstances and pitfalls. Today, we’re hearing that two of Hollywood’s hottest stars, Ayo Edebiri and Will Sharpe, will lead Prodigies, an upcoming Apple TV+ series about two ex-child prodigies reevaluating their relationship later in life.

In Prodigies, Ayo Edebiri plays Didi, while Will Sharpe plays Ren, “two ex-child prodigies who have been together since they were children. Now in their early 30s, they are starting to question whether their very ordinary existence is living up to the extraordinary promise of their childhood. Inevitably, they find themselves asking the same questions of their relationship.”

The project finds Will Sharpe re-teaming with Black Doves producer Sister,...

Will Sharpe and Ayo Edebiri are set to unite in the new rom-com series “Prodigies” for Apple TV+.

Sharpe, who made a major splash with “The White Lotus” and was recently seen taking Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin on a tour of Poland in “A Real Pain,” created the seven-episode comedy and will write and direct. Sister, the BAFTA-winning production company behind “Black Doves,” is producing. Edebiri, who has won a Golden Globe, two SAG Awards and an Emmy for her performance on “The Bear,” will also serve as an exec producer alongside Sharpe.

Described in the synopsis as an “unusual take” on a classic romantic comedy, “Prodigies” is set to explore the universal complexities of long-term relationships through the lens of a very unique couple. The story follows Didi (Edebiri) and Ren (Sharpe), two ex-child prodigies who have been together since they were children and, now in their early 30s,...

Netflix has struck a creative partnership with multi-hyphenate Lena Dunham (Girls) and her production company Good Thing Going “to develop and create serialized first-look projects for Netflix.” The news comes as the creator is ready to return to the small screen with Netflix rom-com series Too Much this year, which she discussed during a Netflix event in London on Wednesday evening.

The show, on which Dunham functions as creator, writer, director and executive producer, marks her first scripted comedy series with Netflix and predates the newly unveiled partnership.

Before getting down to Netflix business at the London event, Scottish radio DJ and TV host Edith Bowman asked if due to the time she has spent in the U.K., Dunham could already be considered an honorary Brit. “I just got my five-year visa,” the creator shared, earning applause. “It did come with the damehood,” she then quipped.

Of the deal,...

Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda’s latest Netflix series, Asura, has been received very well – thanks to the brilliant storytelling, masterful direction, and fantastic acting performances by the cast. In this article, we’re going to look into who is playing what in the show and talk about the character for a bit.

Jun Kunimura as Kotaro

Veteran actor Jun Kunimura — whose most famous work is playing the Japanese priest in Korean director Na Hong-Jin’s The Wailing (2016), which I considered to be the greatest horror movie of this generation — plays Kotaro in Asura. The show begins with Takako discovering her seventy-something father – Kotaro – being unfaithful to her mother for a long time and even having a child. Kunimura is quite fantastic in the role, where most of the acting is done by expression and not words.

Keiko Matsuzaka as Fuji

Keiko Matsuzaka, who has a sprawling career and was also...

Before Joe Barton created Black Doves, he made one of the most compelling international television series with Giri/Haji. Different enough to Black Doves to be its own entity but similar enough in themes and tone to sit next to it as a companion piece, Giri/Haji is set in both London and Tokyo. It’s a cross-cultural thriller, with dialogue spoken in both English and Japanese, featuring an all-star cast from across the globe, primarily from Japan and the UK. Kenzo Mori (Takehiro Hira) is a Tokyo-based detective who travels to London to look for his brother, Yuto (Yōsuke Kubozuka). As Kenzo is trying to solve the mystery of his brother’s whereabouts, he befriends a British police officer named Sarah (Kelly MacDonald), and a young sex worker named Rodney (Will Sharpe). Along with a host of other supporting characters, they end up heavily involved in Kenzo’s work to solve the case.

Spoiler Alert: This article contains major spoilers from “Black Doves” Season 1, now streaming on Netflix.

“Black Doves,” Keira Knightley’s first television series in more than two decades, has already proved a massive success for Netflix, which, knowing it had a hit, had ordered a second season from Knightley and creator/showrunner Joe Barton before the show even premiered.

Over the course of six episodes, viewers have been entranced by Helen (Knightley) as she balances her competing roles: elegant wife of Wallace (Andrew Buchan), the Minister of Defence, doting mother of twins, supportive friend to semi-alcoholic assassin Sam (Ben Whishaw), passionate affair partner to her lover Jason (Andrew Koji) and ruthless spy for a mercenary organization called the Black Doves.

After Jason is mysteriously murdered, Helen is hellbent on revenge before realizing she has stumbled into a global conspiracy that could possibly result in World War III, and pits her...

One of the stars from True Detective: Night Country has a great television replacement in Netflix's spy thriller series Black Doves. Created by Joe Barton, Black Doves has opened to outstanding reviews, earning a near-perfect 94% Rotten Tomatoes critic score after its December 5, 2024 release date. Keira Knightley leads the cast of Black Doves along with Ben Whishaw of Skyfall and No Time to Die acclaim.

Black Doves follows Knightley's Helen Webb, the loving and supportive wife of Wallace Webb, a prominent British politician. Webb is also a secret agent working for the mysterious covert spy organization known as the Black Doves, which Mrs. Reed is the head of. Reed confronts Helen over an affair she was having with a civil servant named Jason (Andrew Koji), who was shockingly shot and killed in a park from long range. Suspecting that Helen could be in hot water with a powerful criminal conspiracy,...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Black Doves season 1.

Keira Knightley's Netflix espionage series Black Doves features a robust cast of secret agents, undercover spies, and lethal assassins. Created by Joe Barton, Black Doves has opened to outstanding reviews, earning a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic score upon its December 5, 2024 release date. Knightley leads the cast of Black Doves along with Ben Whishaw, who is best known for playing Q in Daniel Craig's final three James Bond movies. Black Doves also features a stellar supporting cast, including Sarah Lancashire's Reed, Kathryn Hunter's Lenny, Ella Lily Hyland's Williams, and Omari Douglas's Michael.

Black Doves follows Knightley's Helen Webb, the loving and supportive wife of Andrew Buchan's Wallace Webb, a prominent British politician. Webb is also a secret agent working for the mysterious covert spy organization known as the Black Doves, which Mrs. Reed is the head of.

It might be hard to remember, given the absolute cavalcade of "content" being constantly shoveled onto the Netflix servers, but back in 2022 Charlie Cox starred in the Netflix spy thriller "Treason," a show that released for Christmas and turned out to be pretty underwhelming. That was a shame, too, since Cox's star was back on the rise following the cancellation and swift Disney revival of "Daredevil," and the man is undeniably a talented actor. Sadly, the series itself fell short of being the Christmas gift fans of the spy genre were hoping for.

Now, Netflix is making it up to us all with "Black Doves," a six-episode spy thriller that debuted just in time for the festive season and features another British star in the form of Keira Knightly. Created and written by Joe Barton, "Black Doves" is set in London at Christmas time and follows Knightly's Helen Webb,...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Black Doves season 1.

Keira Knightley's Helen Webb has a complicated relationship with her assassin friend Sam, whose first kill was his own father in the Netflix espionage series Black Doves. Created by Joe Barton, Black Doves has outstanding reviews, earning a 98% Rotten Tomatoes critic score after its December 5, 2024 release date. Knightley leads the cast of Black Doves along with Ben Whishaw's Sam Young, best known for playing Q in Daniel Craig's James Bond films. Black Doves features a stellar supporting cast, including Sarah Lancashire's Reed, Kathryn Hunter's Lenny, and Ella Lily Hyland's Williams.

Black Doves follows public figure Helen Webb, the loving and supportive wife of Andrew Buchan's Wallace Webb, a prominent British politician. Webb is also a secret agent working for the mysterious covert spy organization known as the Black Doves, which Mrs. Reed is the head of.

Joe Barton, the mind behind Giri/Haji, returns with Black Doves—a spy series that boldly merges the high-stakes intensity of espionage drama with the warmth and sentimentality of a holiday movie. This unique tonal blend sets Netflix’s Black Doves apart, carving a place for itself alongside modern espionage hits like Slow Horses and The Agency. With its emotionally complex characters and intrigue-laden narrative, the series signals a renaissance of the spy thriller genre in television. Set against the shimmering backdrop of a Christmastime London, Black Doves follows Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a former honeytrap operative turned housewife, whose life unravels when her lover is assassinated. Her thirst for revenge draws her back into the shadowy world of international espionage, putting her at odds with her handler, Mrs. Reed (Sarah Lancashire), and entangling her with Sam (Ben Whishaw), a morally ambiguous triggerman haunted by a failed mission from his past.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Black Doves season 1.

Keira Knightley's Netflix espionage series Black Doves has a major twist that reveals the true identity of her secret love interest, Jason. Created by Joe Barton, Black Doves has opened to outstanding reviews, earning a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic score upon its December 5, 2024 release date. Knightley leads the cast of Black Doves along with Ben Whishaw, who is best known for playing Q in Daniel Craig's final three James Bond movies. Black Doves also features a stellar supporting cast, including Sarah Lancashire's Reed, Kathryn Hunter's Lenny, Ella Lily Hyland's Williams, and Omari Douglas's Michael.

Black Doves follows Knightley's Helen Webb, the loving and supportive wife of Andrew Buchan's Wallace Webb, a prominent British politician. Webb is also a secret agent working for the mysterious covert spy organization known as the Black Doves, which Mrs. Reed is the head of.

From the creator of “Giri/Haji” (Joe Barton) comes a spy show that is part espionage drama, part holiday cheer-filled movie with a sublime balancing act with the two disparate tonalities. “Black Doves” (season 1) joins “Slow Horses” and “The Agency” in ushering in a renaissance of spy thrillers in television.

Black Doves (Season 1) Recap – Flashback Sequences in Episodes 1 – 3: How do Sam and Helen meet?

Back in 2014, a rejection from the job as a translator due to the shady connections of Helen (Keira Knightley) related to the death of her stepfather leads to “a door closes and a window opens” when the interviewer connects Helen to Mrs. Reed (Sarah Lancashire). Their meeting at a parking lot would echo the feisty relationship the two women would share in the future.

Helen would finally realize her job as a spy for an organization in extracting information for the highest bidder. To that end,...

If you love a Christmas mystery, Black Doves should be on your wish list — even if it’s more ass-kicking than cozy.

This six-episode spy thriller starring Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw as an unlikely spy/assassin duo will offer up high-stakes global intrigue as well as plenty of British wit, knife fights, and holiday (or anti-holiday?) cheer.

For anyone who knows that Die Hard is definitely a holiday movie, Black Doves, created and written by Joe Barton, will be delivered as an early Christmas gift on Dec. 5. Watch the tinsel-and-bullet-filled trailer above, and read on for everything that’s been declassified about the series so far.

Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, Black Doves is a sharp, action-filled, and heartfelt story of friendship and sacrifice. It follows Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a...

The new feature allows certain Disney+ subscribers access live sports for the first time.

While it was a quiet week for news amidst the Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday aftermath, Disney+ added a new feature to make some of its subscribers’ lives easier, making due on a promise to bring live sports to the streamer.

Plus, from a Christmas-set spy thriller series starring Keira Knightley to a documentary about the Man of Steel, get our watch recommendations!

This Week’s Biggest Streaming News:

Top News: Disney adds live sports with ESPN tile

Catch up on this weekend: ‘Black Doves’

Stream this weekend: ‘Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story’

Disney+ brings live sports to streamer with new ESPN tile

Just two months ago, Disney+ increased its prices on most subscription plans, hoping it will push more customers to bundle up in the coming winter months with combination plans including Hulu, ESPN+, and/or...

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Black Doves episode 1.

Keira Knightley's Helen Webb is a secret agent in the covert spy organization known as the Black Doves in Netflix's espionage series Black Doves. Created by Joe Barton, Black Doves has opened to outstanding reviews, earning a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic score upon its December 5, 2024 release date. Knightley leads the cast of Black Doves along with Ben Whishaw, who is best known for playing Q in Daniel Craig's final three James Bond movies. Black Doves also features a stellar supporting cast, including Sarah Lancashire's Reed, Kathryn Hunter's Lenny, Ella Lily Hyland's Williams, and Omari Douglas's Michael.

Black Doves follows Knightley's Helen Webb, the loving and supportive wife of Andrew Buchan's Wallace Webb, a prominent British politician. Webb is also a secret agent working for the mysterious covert spy organization known as the Black Doves, which Mrs.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Black Doves season 1.

The ending of Keira Knightley's Netflix espionage series Black Doves finds Helen and Sam uncertain of their futures after their showdown with the Clarks. Created by Joe Barton, Black Doves has opened to outstanding reviews, earning a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic score upon its December 5, 2024 release date. Knightley leads the cast of Black Doves along with Ben Whishaw, who is best known for playing Q in Daniel Craig's final three James Bond movies. Black Doves also features a stellar supporting cast, including Sarah Lancashire's Reed, Kathryn Hunter's Lenny, Ella Lily Hyland's Williams, and Omari Douglas's Michael.

Black Doves follows Knightley's Helen Webb, the loving and supportive wife of Andrew Buchan's Wallace Webb, a prominent British politician. Webb is also a secret agent working for the mysterious covert spy organization known as the Black Doves, which Mrs.

With Black Doves, The Day of the Jackal and The Agency all hitting TV screens in the space of a few weeks, premium spy shows feel in vogue.

Jane Featherstone and Joe Barton concur. They are the producer and creator behind Netflix’s Black Doves, which stars Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw as agents who operate amid a whirlwind of secrets.

“It’s back,” Featherstone told Deadline. “Everyone’s making ’em. The world is in a place where you need spies because there are so many barriers and nation state issues it just feels like the time.”

Featherstone, who runs Black Doves maker Sister, said these trends come in circa-25-year cycles, citing Spooks, the hit BBC series she produced in the 2000s. She said she is “definitely” being pitched more spy shows at present but there is room for plenty. Black Doves had a two-season order before it even premiered,...

Keira Knightley stars as a mother and spy caught between two dangerous worlds.

Spy shows are always in style, and Netflix’s new show, “Black Doves” is dripping with it. The key art looks like something out of a James Bond movie and the trailer rocks just as hard (the shotgun moment is great). Keira Knightley stars as Helen Webb, a devoted wife and mother – and also a spy. When her secret lover is killed by London’s underworld, her employer sends an old friend (Ben Whishaw) to protect her. Here’s everything you need to know about “Black Doves,” which premieres on Netflix on Thursday, Dec. 5.

Everything you need to know about ‘Black Doves’:

What is ‘Black Doves’ about?

Who are the main characters of ‘Black Doves’?

Who is the creator behind ‘Black Doves’?

What time will episodes of ‘Black Doves’ come on Netflix?

What is ‘Black Doves’ about?...

Keira Knightley’s long-awaited return to a high profile project; Sabrina Carpenter and friends getting everyone ready for Christmas; Angelina Jolie bringing the legendary Maria Callas to life; Tyler Perry telling the story of a women and Poc only WWII Army unit; the NFL attempting to institute a new streaming Christmas tradition; and the return of one of biggest TV series of the 21st century are some of the highlights among the new films and series hitting Netflix in December.

After a quiet few years, Keira Knightley returns as a lead in Netflix’s spy drama Black Doves, which launches on Dec. 5. In the show, Knightley plays Helen Webb, a dedicated wife and mother and professional spy. Having passed her politician husband’s secrets to the Black Doves, a shadowy group, Webb’s covert identity is endangered when a lover (Andrew Koji), is murdered and she looks to avenge his death.

When we meet Helen Webb in the first episode of the new Netflix miniseries Black Doves, she seems a picture-perfect example of a politician’s wife: impeccably styled, cheerful, tending to home and children while her husband, Wallace, works as Great Britain’s defense secretary. She has it all, and makes it look easy. Because no one could be that perfect, though, we soon find out that Helen, played by Keira Knightley, is in fact a freelance spy who has spent the past decade of her life getting close to...

Take two of Britain’s best media outputs: spy dramas, like the James Bond franchise or “Killing Eve,” and works of well-mannered political intrigue, like “The Crown.” Smush ’em together, and you get Netflix’s newest miniseries, “Black Doves”—a slick, six-episode romp through the emotional lives of two morally bankrupt secret agents. This latest series from creator Joe Barton sees a vengeful spy team up with an old colleague to try and bring down the people who killed her paramour.

Continue reading ‘Black Doves’ Review: Keira Knightley & Ben Whishaw Charm In Joe Barton’s Witty & Entertaining Spy Series at The Playlist.

TV shows rooted in the world of espionage are more commonplace than ever these days, but their rise in popularity in recent years also equals more difficulty in standing out from the rest of the pack. Series like Apple TV+'s Slow Horses, Prime Video's Jack Ryan, and Paramount+'s Lioness have become major hits in their own right, while Netflix has already entered the spycraft game thanks to successful shows like The Night Agent, which has been renewed for two more seasons. Not to be outdone by its American cousin, Black Doves, which stars Keira Knightley and hails from Joe Barton, has already earned a Season 2 renewal before even airing a single episode. That promise of more story to come, especially in the cancellation-heavy landscape of streaming, might be enough to pique some viewers' curiosity on its own — but this British spy thriller also happens to be a lean,...

You’ve seen Keira Knightley wield a sword as Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean films. You’ve seen her make a man question his entire existence as Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Now, see her like never before, starring as lethal spy Helen Webb in her first television series in some time, Black Doves, created by Joe Barton.

Knightley was the first to join the cast of the six-episode series after Barton finished the script. He’d sent it to his agent, and the next day he got an email back from his manager, who also represents Knightley. “They told me she was looking to do some high-end television, maybe set in London, maybe contemporary,” said Barton. “Basically describing the script I’d just sent them!” Five days later, Knightley and Barton were in a coffee shop chatting about the role. “The whole concept made me...

When it comes to Christmas films and shows, virtually no genre stone has been left unturned. We've had festive comedies (Home Alone), holiday romances (The Holiday), seasonal musicals (Nativity!), yuletide horrors (Terrifier 3), and even holly jolly action movies (Die Hard — shh!). But with Giri/Haji and The Lazarus Project scribe Joe Barton's upcoming Netflix six-parter Black Doves, we're about to get something a little more rare — a Christmas thriller. The snowy spy series stars Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw, and Sarah Lancashire as a covert agent, an asssassin, and their spymaster (now that's our kind of Three Wise Men) who get caught up in London's criminal underworld, and it looks like another Barton banger. Check out the new trailer below:

Now, clandestine car meetings, assassinated paramours, late-night strangulation, and close-quarters hand-to-hand combat — stylishly, er, executed as they may be — don't immediately scream "Deck the halls!", we'll admit. However, that is not the full picture here,...

British screenwriter Joe Barton’s first foray into Netflix TV, “The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself,” didn’t really find an audience. Too bad, because Barton is one of the better scripters on the scene today. Maybe his “Black Doves,” his latest project for the streamer, will fare better?

Read More: Fall 2024 TV Preview: 40 Must-See Series To Watch

It almost certainly will, thanks to the star power leading it (and because “Black Doves” bears a superficial resemblance to Barton’s 2019 breakout “Giri/Haji“).

Continue reading New ‘Black Doves’ Trailer: Joe Barton’s Spy Series With Keira Knightley & Ben Whishaw Hits Netflix On December 5 at The Playlist.

Netflix has revealed the final trailer for the Black Doves series, which will premiere globally on December 5, 2024. The streaming service previously confirmed that the spy thriller will return for a second season.

Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, Black Doves is a sharp, action-filled, and heartfelt story of friendship and sacrifice. It follows Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a quick-witted, down-to-earth, dedicated wife and mother — and professional spy.

For 10 years, she’s been passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organization she works for: the Black Doves. When her secret lover Jason (Andrew Koji) is assassinated, her spymaster, the enigmatic Reed (Sarah Lancashire), calls in Helen’s old friend Sam (Ben Whishaw) to keep her safe.

Together, Helen and Sam set off on a mission to investigate who killed Jason and why, leading them to uncover a vast, interconnected conspiracy linking the murky London underworld to a looming geopolitical crisis.

Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw star in the spy thriller series Black Doves, heading to Netflix in December. Here’s the trailer.

Keira Knightley’s latest project is the Netflix spy thriller series Black Doves, which is set at Christmas in London. Netflix has already ordered a second series, such is its level of confidence.

The cast also includes Andrew Buchan, Kathryn Hunter, Sam Troughton, Ella Lily Hyland, Adam Silver, Ken Nwosu, Gabrielle Creevy and Omari Douglas.

The show, due to stream as we’re all opening our Peppa Pig advent calendars in December, is written by Joe Barton, who also wrote the terrific BBC series Giri/Haji.

Watch the trailer below. You know, if you feel like it – we aren’t trying to force you or anything.

Finally, the synopsis reads as follows:

Black Doves follows Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a quick-witted, down to earth, dedicated wife and mother — and professional spy.

Keira Knightley is a spy now.

The actress will lead Netflix’s “Black Doves,” created by Joe Barton, opposite Ben Whishaw. It marks the actress’ first live-action TV role since she first rose to fame in “Bend It Like Beckham” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” as a teenager. Whishaw was last seen on TV screens on the BBC/AMC 2022 hit “This Is Going to Hurt.”

“‘Black Doves’ is a very exciting spy thriller set at Christmas in London,” Knightley said at a Netflix event earlier this year. The first season will contain six episodes, and Netflix has already renewed it for a second season (so: It sure feels like a cliffhanger is coming).

Per a press release, “Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, ‘Black Doves’ is a sharp, action-filled, and heartfelt story of friendship and sacrifice. It follows Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a quick-witted, down-to-earth, dedicated wife and mother — and professional spy.

Over the past decade, Joe Barton has earned his place among the great British screenwriters. From Giri/Haji, to The Lazarus Project, to The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself and cinematic offerings like Encounter and The Ritual, the man's made a living out of noodle twisting, edge-of-your-seat gripping film and TV. And his latest, upcoming Netflix thriller Black Doves, looks like it could be his best yet. Starring Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw, and Sarah Lancashire, Barton's latest is a six-part spy thriller series set during the most wonderful time of the year. Based on the first teaser for the show though, wonderful times look to be in short supply for our leads here. Check it out below:

We did say teaser — but what a way to make 20 seconds count, eh? "I'm looking to hire someone," says Sarah Lancashire's spymaster Reed over shots of a blood-spattered Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw.

Netflix has announced the premiere date for the spy thriller Black Doves alongside a first look at the series starring Keira Knightley, Ben Whishaw, and Sarah Lancashire.

Black Doves Season 1 will premiere globally on Netflix on December 5, 2024. The streaming service has already confirmed that the series will return for a second season.

Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, Black Doves is a sharp, action-filled, and heartfelt story of friendship and sacrifice. It follows Helen Webb (Keira Knightley), a quick-witted, down-to-earth, dedicated wife and mother — and professional spy.

For 10 years, she’s been passing on her politician husband’s secrets to the shadowy organization she works for: the Black Doves.

When her secret lover Jason (Andrew Koji) is assassinated, her spymaster, the enigmatic Reed (Sarah Lancashire), calls in Helen’s old friend Sam (Ben Whishaw) to keep her safe.

Together, Helen and Sam set off on a mission to...

“Black Doves,” a spy thriller starring Keira Knightley, is set to premiere on Netflix on Dec. 5.

Set against the backdrop of London at Christmas, the series follows Knightley as Helen Webb, a a quick-witted, down-to-earth, dedicated wife and mother — and professional spy – who has been passing on her politician husband’s secrets for 10 years to a shadowy organization she works: The Black Doves.

When her secret lover Jason (Andrew Koji) is assassinated, her spymaster, the enigmatic Reed (Sarah Lancashire), calls in Helen’s old friend Sam (Ben Whishaw) to keep her safe. Together, Helen and Sam set off on a mission to investigate who killed Jason and why, leading them to uncover a vast, interconnected conspiracy linking the murky London underworld to a looming geopolitical crisis.

(Netflix/Ludovic Robert)

Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw in “Black Doves”

(Netflix/Ludovic Robert)

Sarah Lancashire in “Black Doves”

(Netflix/Ludovic Robert)

Keira Knightley...

From sitcoms and dramas to limited series and revivals, fall TV is officially back with more new shows than in the past. But who’s creating this content? Here, Variety highlights the showrunners behind some of the new, most highly anticipated series coming in the next few months.

Kevin Abbott

Writer and executive producer of “Happy’s Place,” Abbott has worked with Reba McEntire before, both as a writer on and produce on “Reba.” Previously, Abbott produced 160 episodes of “Last Man Standing” and worked on “My Name Is Earl,” “Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place,” “Roseanne” and “The Golden Girls.”

Produced by: Universal TV

Premiere: Oct. 18, NBC

Joe Barton

“Black Doves,” a spy thriller set in London at Christmastime, was created by Barton and is led by Keira Knightley. In the past five years, he created and produced “Giri/Haji,” “The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself” and “The Lazarus Project.

Keira Knightley lined up her next role, and it will involve cruising at sea on a big boat. Although that doesn't imply reprising her role as Elizabeth Swann in a new Pirates of the Caribbean film, it will be in Netflix's adaptation of The Woman in 10.

Netflix announced in May it will adapt Ruth Ware's bestselling novel The Woman in Cabin 10, with Keira Knightley in the leading role. Now, the streaming service unveiled the rest of the star-studded ensemble cast of the upcoming mystery thriller. The new film follows Lo Blacklock, a journalist who works for a travel magazine and gets the opportunity to review a luxury cruise, but everything takes a turn when she hears a splash that sounds like a body dropping in the water. However, the plot twist is that all the passengers on board are accounted for, and no one believes her, putting...

In a world where the entertainment industry rarely reads between the lines, Anna Sawai’s story is like that final plot twist we never saw coming—but are absolutely thrilled about. The star of FX’s Shōgun recently walked away with the Emmy for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series at the 76th Emmy Awards, etching her name in history as the first Japanese performer to win this award.

Anna Sawai in Shōgun| Credits: FX

But did you know that before overwhelming us in the samurai epic, she was kicking it J-pop style? Yes, Sawai was part of a J-pop group but quickly left after realizing that the industry’s approach was not music to her ears. From small roles in Netflix’s Giri/Haji to a pulse-pounding appearance in F9, haven’t we all hit the jackpot with her decision to pivot career paths?

Anna Sawai Made History as...

Anna Sawai has won the Emmy for best actress in a drama series for the FX series “Shogun,” becoming the first actor of Asian descent to ever win in the category.

With her victory, Sawai beat out fellow nominees Jennifer Aniston (Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show”), Carrie Coon (HBO’s “The Gilded Age”), Maya Erskine (Amazon’s “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”), Imelda Staunton (Netflix’s “The Crown”) and Reese Witherspoon (Apple TV+’s “The Morning Show”).

Sawai thanked the “Shogun” team but also paid tribute to her mom, who served as her inspiration. “Thank you John Landgraf and the whole FX team for believing in our story. Thank you, Justin and Rachel, for believing in me and giving me this role of a lifetime,” she said.

“Lastly, thank you to my team and thank you to my family. Mom, I love you. You are the reason I’m here.

Anna Sawai has become quite the famous personality after her role in Shogun. Lady Mariko dominated any scene that she was in, showcasing the power of her performance as the character. Although many know her through this series, as well as other worlds like Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Fast X, and Giri/Haji, there is a completely different part of her life that has had a great influence on her.

Anna Sawai as Toda Mariko. | Credit: FX

During an interview, the actress talked about her time being a part of the world of J-pop. Specifically talking about all the negatives that came about in her years as the leader of the girl group, Faky, she revealed how it affected her personal life.

Anna Sawai Felt Out-of-Tune In Her Girl Group

During an interview with WMagazine, Anna Sawai went into great detail about her personal and professional life. She especially talked about...

The stars’ rapport helps retain your interest in a preposterous international caper that has something vaguely to do with justice

Like a good covert operation team, everyone involved in the latest in a long line of expensive yet generally forgettable Netflix action flicks is clear on the mission. They know their role, and what they’re being paid for. Mark Wahlberg, playing to type as a downhome blue-collar guy, enters the movie shirtless. Halle Berry, as a veteran intelligence agent, kicks ass while wearing a Catwoman-esque all-leather uniform. Jk Simmons, as the head of a covert group of working-class secret agents, conveys no-nonsense avuncular authority as only Jk Simmons can. And Julian Farino, director of such shows as Giri/Haji and Entourage, wrings each of the many combat scenes for snappy but never stressful suspense.

The fictional purpose, besides a vague sense of justice, is never totally clear however. Nothing in The Union is subtle,...

Marvel’s Hit-Monkey is an adult action-comedy animated series created by Will Speck and Josh Gordon. Based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name created by Daniel Way and Dalibor Talajić, the Hulu series follows the story of Monkey and the ghost of Bryce Fowler, an American hit man as they go on a quest for bloody vengeance. Marvel’s Hit-Monkey’s voice cast includes Jason Sudeikis and Fred Tatasciore in the lead roles with Ally Maki, Olivia Munn, Nobi Nakanishi, George Takei, Leslie Jones, and Cristin Milioti voicing the supporting characters. So, if you loved the incredible visuals, bloody action, complex characters, and dark comedy in Marvel’s Hit-Monkey here are some similar shows you could watch next.

Peacemaker (Max & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – HBO Max

Peacemaker is a superhero action comedy series created by James Gunn. Based on the DC Comics characters of the same name,...

Variety has confirmed that the previously announced Arkham Asylum TV series is no longer moving forward at Max. It was back in 2022 when we first learned Antonio Campos (The Staircase) had been tapped to serve as The Batman spin-off's writer and showrunner.

This iteration of the show has been scrapped, though it's supposedly possible that a new project set in the infamous Gotham City location could happen down the line. We're not banking on it, unfortunately.

In many ways, this news doesn't come as a surprise. When the show was announced, it had a series commitment but was being developed by Terrence Winter (Boardwalk Empire) and set inside the Gotham City Police Department. He later walked away due to creative differences.

Giri/Haji creator Joe Barton was next to take a crack at the untitled series - which many fans had already unfavourably compared to Fox's Gotham - only to walk...

The planned Arkham Asylum TV series is no longer moving forward at Max, Variety has learned.

As Variety exclusively reported in October 2022, Antonio Campos had come onboard to serve as writer and showrunner of the series, which was originally meant to be set within the world of Matt Reeves’ “The Batman.” But according to an individual with knowledge of the situation, Campos’ version will not proceed. It is still possible, though, that a new project set within the infamous Gotham City asylum could be developed in the future, the individual noted.

Thus ends (at least for now) the show’s complicated path to the screen. It was originally announced in July 2020 with a series commitment, but at that time it was meant to focus on the inner workings of the Gotham Pd as featured in “The Batman.” Terrence Winter was attached to write and executive produce, but he left the...