If you're a fan of Gary Oldman's unconventional band of misfit spies in Slough House, another brilliant British spy series is back for a surprise new adventure. Move over, Slow Horses. Keeley Hawes is reprising her role as the international assassin Julie for series 2 of her five-star spy thriller, The Assassin. This time, she's taking on her most testing challenge yet – one that might be even tougher than espionage.
The first series, which first aired in 2025, follows mother Julie (Keeley Hawes) and her son Edward (Freddie Highmore) – but they're hardly the picture of a happy family. The pair have become estranged, and Edward arrives unannounced at his mother's secluded Greek island home. Their reunion is quickly derailed as Julie's killer past comes back to haunt her and they're forced to go on the run across Europe. In series two, the mother and son are reluctantly brought back together. But can they stop bickering long enough to save the life of Edward's new wife?
With the second chapter coming to our screens soon, here’s everything you need to know about the The Assassin series 2, including the cast, plot and how to watch it.
What is The Assassin about?
The six-part series follows retired (or perhaps not-so-retired) hitwoman Julie (Keeley Hawes) as she’s forced to reunite with her estranged son, Edward (Freddie Highmore), in a bid for survival. Why? Edward pays a rare visit to the idyllic Greek island she lives on before his wedding to fiancée Kayla (Shalom Brune-Franklin) to try and find out the truth about who his dad is. However, he gets a lot more than he bargained for when Julie’s dangerous past catches up with her and they're forced to go on the run.
An international adventure unfolds as the mother fights to protect her son while trying to put an end to their rift. However, what remains of their relationship is pushed to its limits. Along the way, they uncover a dark conspiracy, and then an even greater danger that could destroy them entirely. It becomes a tense race against the clock as past and present collide. But will the mother and son finally put aside their differences?
What will happen in The Assassin series 2?
The second series picks up after Julie and Edward survive an eventful trip across Europe. Despite their action-packed reunion, the pair still haven’t managed to iron out all their differences. In fact, the second series sees the pair on bad terms once again after a mysterious falling-out. But being a full-time killer isn’t the only danger Julie must contend with – she’s also a single woman navigating the fiery red flags of the modern dating world…
Meanwhile, Edward has set off on his dream honeymoon with his new wife Kayla, until she’s kidnapped and taken hostage. There’s only one woman the distraught newlywed can call upon – his mother – and she didn’t even get invited to the wedding. Together, they reunite for another action-packed adventure with high-speed chases and a trip into Spain’s criminal underworld. But will the pair finally work it out, or could this be the final nail in the coffin of their already damaged relationship?
Who’s in the cast of The Assassin series 2?
The returning cast of The Assassin series 2 includes:
- Keeley Hawes (Bodyguard, The Durrells) as Julie
- Freddie Highmore (The Good Doctor) as Edward
- Shalom Brune-Franklin (Line Of Duty) as Kayla
- Devon Terrell (It’s What’s Inside, Barry) as Ezra
New cast members in The Assassin series 2 include:
- Arnaud Bindard (Emily In Paris)
- Natalia Tena (GameOf Thrones)
- Boris Van Severen (Baptiste)
- Jacqueline Boatswain (Bridgerton)
- Monic Hendrickx (Penoza)
Is there a trailer for The Assassin series 2?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for The Assassin series 2 below.
Is The Assassin any good?
Yes, although it's an action-packed drama, it's surprisingly relatable. Keeley Hawes is a woman at full capacity, as she’s trying to balance retirement (from a job we can't relate to) with making amends with her son. The fact that their strained relationship sits at the heart of this thriller sets it apart from other spy series. Between the car chases and shoot-outs, the scenes where Julie and Edward argue with each other are hilarious – and you can't help but hope that they end their feud once and for all.
How can I watch The Assassin series 2?
All six episodes of The Assassin series 2 will air on Prime Video from Friday 6 November. You can catch up with the first series on Prime Video now.
What other spy thrillers can I watch now?
For a series based on extraordinary real events, we’d recommend Legends, which follows a 1990s top-secret operation led by former undercover officer Don (Steve Coogan). He must recruit a team of ordinary Customs employees to infiltrate Britain’s criminal underworld. You can watch Legends now on Netflix. For another brilliant spy thriller, we’d suggest Secret Service. The series follows Gemma Arterton as Kate Henderson, a senior MI6 agent who soon finds herself tangled up in a web of destruction – and, Arterton is exceptional in it. You can watch Secret Service now on ITVX.